Double contrast small bowel follow-through with an acid-resistant effervescent agent.
OBJECTIVE
A new technique was developed to achieve double contrast examinations in the small bowel without intubation.


METHODS
Effervescent granules and tablets were coated with an acid-resistant acrylic lacquer to provide selective enteric gas release. The coating thickness was 15% of dry weight for the granules and 1 to 4.5 mg/cm2 for the tablets. Fifty patients were examined using the method in a controlled study. All examinations were reviewed by two radiologists using a three-step quality score. The results were compared to 20 enteroclysis examinations.


RESULTS
Image quality was better for the coated tablets compared with the granules (P < .01). The double-contrast small bowel follow-through (DC-SBFT) provided a better quality examination in the terminal small bowel than in the jejunum. Enteroclysis yielded better results for the jejunum, but was not superior in the terminal ileum. Average time of fluoroscopy was 477 seconds for the DC-SBFT (n = 50) compared with 952 seconds for patients receiving enteroclysis (n = 528). No side effects or adverse reactions occurred due to contrast media application.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this new method are preliminary, yet promising. For young patients and certain indications it may provide a less invasive alternative to enteroclysis.
Klein
H M
HM
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Technology, Aachen, Germany.
Günther
R W
RW
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000328:Adult; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D011859:Radiography
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003287:Contrast Media; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C038300:methylmethacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer; D001466:Barium Sulfate