Costs of gastrointestinal examinations: a comparative study.

The costs of performing four major gastrointestinal examinations were studied and compared: single-contrast and double-contrast upper gastrointestinal series, and single-contrast and double contrast barium enema. A total of 1,725 examination records were reviewed for the number of films expended, room occupancy time, and physician involvement time, and the costs of the studies determined. The data indicated a large and significantly increased time and expense required for the double-contrast barium enema over the single-contrast barium enema. A relatively small increment was found in the cost performing the double-contrast upper gastrointestinal series over the single-contrast study.