EPIDUROGRAPHY IN DOGS - A COMPARATIVE-STU DY BETWEEN IOPAMIDOL AND METRIZAMIDE

Two contrast media were compared for epidurography in twelve healthy a dult dogs of both sexes, dogs weighed 8.9 +/- 2.3 kg and were anesthes ised with thiopentone sodium 2.5% in doses of 20 mg/kg. Six dogs were injected with iopamidol (Niopam 300) by an epidural injection into the lumbo-sacral joint in doses of 0.26 ml/kg. The other six dogs were in jected with metrizamide (Amipague, 6.75) in doses of 0.33 ml/kg. Both products are water soluble, non-ionic and on the basis of iodine. Thre e series of two X-rays each were taken in lateral and ventro-dorsal pr ojection 5, 15 and 20 minutes after administering the contrast medium to each animal. During the study the dogs remained 20-degrees inclined in caudocraneal direction in order to cause the craneal migration of the contrast medium. The X-ray plates of each dog were analyzed and co mpared intra and inter group considering the advance speed of the cont rast medium, the radiographic density and outline as well as the possi ble appearance of adverse effects. The results obtained in the three X -ray series showed that iopamidol was better than metrizamide for the three parameters considered, since under the same experimental conditi ons the radiopac column clearly contrasted and limited a greater medul ar area. No side effects were observed with the use of either contrast media.