The role of oral gastrografin (Diatrizoic acid) in the management of postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction

Abstract

Background:
Small bowel obstruction is one of the most common surgical emergencies and causes of hospital admissions. Diatrizoate Meglumine Gastrografin has been used to triage patients with small bowel obstruction for an operative or a non-operative management.
Patients & Methods:
Sixty eight patients were selected. Patients with clinical & radiological evidences of adhesive small bowel obstruction were grouped into two groups, in which the members of the first group were given Gastrografin orally, while the members of the second group were not. Both groups were observed for 72 hours & managed accordingly.
Results:
Total of 68 patients; 27 responded well to conservative management with
gastrografin, 18 responded well to conservative management without gastrografin, while 23 patients required surgery with no postoperative complications or mortality.
Conclusions:
Orally administered Gastrografin is safe and reliable water-soluble contrast agent which can safely be used in patients with small bowel obstruction. Patients who received Gastrografin had a shorter hospital stay than those who did not, with good tolerance to an early oral diet.