title: Upper gastrointestinal contrast study in the management of small bowel obstruction--a prospective randomised study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out whether contrast radiography helps to resolve small bowel obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomised trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  98 consecutive patients with symptoms of small bowel obstruction and a plain abdominal radiograph that confirmed the diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were randomly allocated to receive a mixture of barium and sodium diatrizoate (Gastrografin) (n = 48) or not (n = 50). Both groups were followed up clinically and by repeated abdominal films.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-operative resolution of small bowel obstruction; number of patients with strangulated bowel; bowel resections; mortality; complications; hospital stay; and time from admission to operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were observed between the groups in the incidence of non-operative resolution (31/48 in contrast group, 35/50 in control group, OR: 0.89), strangulation obstruction (1/48 in contrast group, 4/50 in control group, OR: 0.24), bowel resection (3/48 in contrast group, 4/50 in control group, OR: 0.76), complications (8/48 in contrast group, 5/50 in control group, OR: 1.80), mortality (3/48 in contrast group, 1/50 in control group, OR: 3.26), and hospital stay (0-7 days: 34/48 in contrast group, 38/50 in control group, p = 0.95). The contrast group had a shorter interval between admission and operation than the control group (0-24 hours: 12/48 in contrast group, 3/50 in control group, p = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The contrast examination did not contribute to the resolution of small bowel obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Fevang
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fevang
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Søndenaa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ovrebø
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Røkke
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gislasson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Svanes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viste
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D003973:Diatrizoate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003973:Diatrizoate; D001466:Barium Sulfate