INTRAVENOUS CONTRAST-MEDIUM DOES NOT INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF ACUTE NECROTIZING PANCREATITIS IN THE OPOSSUM

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography provides diagnostic and prognost ic information in patients with acute pancreatitis. To evaluate whethe r contrast medium may worsen the severity of acute pancreatitis, we ha ve used a model of necrotizing pancreatitis induced by ligating the co mmon bile-pancreatic duct in opossums. Animals were infused with eithe r saline or an ionic contrast agent 48 and 96 hr after induction of pa ncreatitis. Hyperamylasemia, pancreatic edema, acinar cell fragility, and macroscopic evidence of pancreatitis were comparable in both exper imental groups. The microscopic extent of inflammation was similar in both groups, whereas acinar cell injury/necrosis was less in the contr ast group. We conclude that administration of this ionic contrast agen t during early stages of necrotizing pancreatitis in the opossum does not worsen the disease severity. The concept that administration of co ntrast medium during early stages of pancreatitis is dangerous should not be accepted until additional experimental and clinical studies sup port its validity.