title: [Use of Gastrografin(®) in the management of adhesion intestinal obstruction].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adhesions are the most important cause of intestinal obstruction. Approximately 25% of surgical admissions for acute abdominal conditions are due to intestinal obstruction. Better diagnostic and treatment methods of intestinal obstruction could potentially reduce mortality rate to 5-10%. Gastrografin(®) could contribute to this achieve this.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present a protocol to treat adhesion intestinal obstruction with Gastrografin(®) that is safe, and allows shorter hospital stays and shorter time between admission and surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with adhesion intestinal obstruction without symptoms of strangulation were treated with Gastrografin(®), intravenous fluids and nasogastric tube. Those in whom contrast reach the colon in 8, 12 or 24hours were considered to have partial obstruction, and were fed orally. If Gastrografin(®) failed in the following 24hours, a laparotomy was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of a total of 211 episodes (164 patients), 170 episodes received contrast and in 142 cases Gastrografin(®) reached the colon (104 episodes at 8h, 11 at 12h, and 27 at 24h). A laparotomy was required in 28 patients because of failed treatment, and in another 5 for other causes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A management protocol for adhesion intestinal obstruction with Gastrografin(®) is safe, reduces morbidity and mortality, and leads to a shorter hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Corporació Sanitària i Universitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, España. Lmora@tauli.cat
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mora López
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Serra-Aracil
authors.forename: Heura
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Llaquet Bayo
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navarro Soto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D003287:Contrast Media; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine