The value of gastrografin in the differential diagnosis of paralytic ileus versus mechanical intestinal obstruction

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Abstract
Two cases in which serious intra-abdominal complications were masked by results of the contrast examination using Gastrografin were encountered. The use of Gastrografin in the differential diagnosis of paralytic ileus vs mechanical intestinal obstruction was studied. In a series of 41 cases in which the diagnostic problem was not solved initially by means of physical examination and plain abdominal roentgenograms and Gastrografin examination proved reliable in 68%. The reliability of the examination was defined as the relative number of cases in which a correct decision could be made for or against surgical operation. Gastrografin is a valuable diagnostic aid in controversial cases of ileus. A negative result of the examination should never be allowed to damp the surgeon''s awareness of possible serious intra-abdominal conditions, which the contrast examination has failed to disclose and which require immediate surgical intervention.