Barium Suspensionsvs.Water-Soluble Iodine Compounds in the Study of Obstruction of the Small Bowel

Abstract

In a carefully controlled study in 42 dogs it was learned that a barium suspension was considerably superior as a contrast medium to a water-soluble iodinated compound for the radiographic study of complete non-strangulating obstructions of the small intestine. The use of barium resulted in more diagnostic roentgen studies, was apparently much better tolerated by the animals, and did not produce impaction at or proximal to the obstruction. The barium sulfate suspension (Micropaque) maintained much better radiographic density proximal to an obstruction of the small intestine than did the water-soluble iodinated compound (Gastrografin), which lost density in a high percentage of cases, particularly in high obstruc-tions. The barium sulfate suspension was far more effective in showing the non-specific findings of mechanical obstruction and in demonstrating the actual point of obstruction (i.e., "the lesion").