title: Gastrografin administration in the treatment of postoperative delayed gastric emptying.
abstract: Five cases of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) are reported. Three patients had pancreatic head carcinoma and underwent a Whipple operation during which truncal vagotomy and gastrectomy were performed. The remaining two patients underwent vagotomy and gastrectomy because of benign peptic ulcer. In one of the pancreatectomy cases, the pylorus was at first preserved, but after DGE developed, a gastrectomy was carried out, which did not result in any improvement. The duration of DGE was 16-72 days, during which time the patients were under total parenteral or enteral nutrition. There were no other major complications. The patients received prokinetic agents (metoclopramide, erythromycin) but without any improvement. Finally, all patients were treated with Gastrografin, 40 ml every two hours, via a nasogastric tube. In all cases, gastric motility was restored within 20-36 hours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Patras University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Karavias
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tepetes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vagenas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Panagopoulos
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Agelopoulou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Androulakis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Androulakis
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014628:Vagotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine