Intravenous Pyelography. A Comparative Trial of Ten Methods in Patients with Good Renal Function

Abstract

Intravenous pyelograms carried out 536 patients suggest the following: in adult patients with a normal blood urea, the quality of intravenous pyelograms can be expected to improve in a manner proportional to the amount of contrast medium injected up to 1 ml/lb. of body weight; fluid deprivation and lower abdominal compression improve the visualisation of the calyces. Methods employing "hydration" of the patient give less satisfactory calyceal visualisation. The injection of 1 ml/lb. of contrast medium in fluid-deprived patients using lower abdominal compression gives the highest percentage of excellent results and the lowest percentage of inadequate results. Eighty ml of 60% Urografin are used routinely in this department for intravenous pyelography in adults. This volume produces highly satisfactory results and is a good compromise between cost and quality compared with methods utilising larger doses.