VALUE OF RADIOPACQUE MARKERS IN IDENTIFYING PARTIAL SMALL-BOWEL OBSTRUCTION

Confirming partial small bowel obstruction is often a diagnostic chall enge, In this case report, 4-mm solid radiopaque markers were used in 4 patients to show partial small bower obstruction, Results of enteroc lysis were normal in 2 of the 4 patients, and the markers were used to challenge suspected partial obstruction, The markers coalesced in the region of the partial obstruction, which was confirmed at surgery, En teroclysis is the examination of choice in the diagnosis of partial sm all bowel obstruction, However, examinations with false-negative resul ts can occur, particularly with adhesive and/or intermittent obstructi ons. The use of radiopaque markers in these cases proved an effective and useful method of establishing the diagnosis of partial small bowel obstruction, particularly in the 2 cases in which enteroclysis result s were normal, Prospective studies are needed to establish the feasibi lity of this novel technique.