LOCAL AND SYSTEMIC EFFECTS OF WATER-SOLUBLE CONTRAST-MEDIA AND BARIUMIN RATS WITH CHRONIC SMALL-BOWEL OBSTRUCTION

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The local effects on the small intestine and systemic changes produced by different contrast media in small bowel obstruction, with time courses of 4 days, were evaluated. MATERIALS AN D METHODS. Pour groups, each with 10 normal rats and another four grou ps (also each with 10 rats) that had ligation of the terminal ileum (o bstructed rats) for 4 days were given 3 mt of barium, meglumine sodium diatrizoate, iohexol, or saline (control animals), Radiographs were t aken immediately, 1 and 4 hours after administration of contrast media . Immediately before sacrifice, blood samples were taken to determine the hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), r ed blood cell count (RBC), and serum sodium, and potassium and chlorid e concentrations, Specimens of small bowel were taken for histologic a nd morphometric analysis. RESULTS. In obstructed rats, the image quali ty with iohexol improved on final radiographs despite being diluted in the great intestinal contents, There was an improvement in the serum electrolyte concentrations in the obstructed animals that were given a ny one of the contrast media, the best improvement being in the iohexo l groups. A shortening of the length of epithelial cells when any one of the contrast media was administered was observed, as was an increas e in the lymphatic space area in the diatrizoate group in normal rats, In the bowel proximal to the obstruction, the lymphatic space area wa s increased in the diatrizoate group and the size of the epithelial ce lls was higher in the diatrizoate and iohexol groups compared to the b arium and saline groups. CONCLUSION. Our results suggest that iohexol offers good radiologic efficacy and excellent systemic and local toler ance in small bowel obstruction.