DOES PRE-SCAN OXYGEN IMPROVE ULTRASONIC-IMAGING OF THE PANCREAS

Ultrasonic imaging of the pancreas is often impaired by overlying bowe l gas. Oxygen therapy has, in the past, been shown to be effective in reducing the gas in the cysts of pneumatosis coli. Using the same hypo thesis, a randomized, single blind study comparing ultrasonic imaging of the pancreas with and without prior oxygen therapy was carried out. Fifty-eight consecutive patients with acute abdominal complaints were randomized to two groups: Group 1, control - no oxygen (n = 30, 14 ma le, 16 female, mean age 61.9 +/- 17.8 years); Group 2, treatment (n = 28, 14 male, 14 female, mean age 61.4 +/- 14.5 years) received oxygen therapy (100% humidified at 10 l/min for 8-10 h prior to the ultrasoun d), Pancreatic visualization was graded good, moderate or poor. Mean p (A)O(2) in Group 1 was 10.9 +/- 1kP and in Group 2 was 36 +/- 10.5kP ( P<0.001 unpaired t-test). Pancreatic visualization was: GOOD - Group 1 , 8; Group 2, 19; MODERATE - Group 1, 8; Group 2, 4; POOR - Group 1, 1 4; Group 2, 5. Oxygen therapy is a safe, cheap, non-invasive method of improving pancreatic visualization and may act by reducing overlying bowel gas.