While assessing a patient before an ultrasound of the spleen, the nurse learns that the patient recently underwent a barium enema procedure.The nurse knows that there should be at least how many hours between administration of barium and this test?
A)6 hours
B)12 hours
C)24 hours
D)48 hours

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ultrasound of the spleen requires clear images of the area, which may be affected by the presence of barium in the colon from the recent enema. Therefore, it is essential to wait for at least 24 hours before performing the ultrasound to ensure that the barium is eliminated from the body, allowing for accurate results. Waiting for 48 hours might be unnecessary in most cases, but the other options (6 or 12 hours) would not be enough time for the barium to clear out from the body.

While Assessing a Patient Before an Ultrasound of the Spleen