title: Benefit of intravenous muscle relaxants during barium follow through.
abstract: The value of an intravenous (i.v.) smooth muscle relaxant during barium follow through (BaFT) examination has been evaluated in a prospective study of 51 patients. Spot compression films pre- and post-relaxant were compared. Relaxant-induced hypotonia improved image quality in 33 (64.8%) patients by facilitating bowel loop separation and/or graded compression. Additional diagnostic information was obtained in 14 (27.5%), and reporting confidence was improved in 19 (37.3%) patients. A marked analgesic effect occurred in seven patients with Crohn's disease, ameliorating pain that otherwise prevented full compression. Intravenous relaxants are recommended when high tone makes compression difficult, to help separate overlying loops and where pain in Crohn's disease prevents adequate compression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St Mark's Hospital for Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, London.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Halligan
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jobling
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Bartram
mesh_terms: D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002086:Butylscopolammonium Bromide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004733:Enema / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate; D002086:Butylscopolammonium Bromide