title: Prospective evaluation of oral gastrografin(®) in the management of postoperative adhesive small bowel obstruction.
abstract: Oral Gastrografin®, a hyperosmolar water-soluble contrast medium, may have a therapeutic effect in adhesive small bowel obstruction. However, findings are still conflicting, as some authors did not find a therapeutic advantage. So, this prospective, randomized, and clinical trial study was designed to determine the value of Gastrografin in adhesive small bowel obstruction. The primary end points were the evaluation of the operative rate reduction and shortening the hospital stay after the use of Gastrografin. A total of 84 patients were randomized into two groups: the control group received conventional treatment, whereas the study group received in addition of 100 mL Gastrografin meal. Patients were followed up within 4 days after admission, and clinical and radiological (if needed) improvements were evaluated. Although the results showed that Gastrografin can decrease the need for surgical management by 14.5 %, no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups (P = 0.07). Nevertheless, the length of hospital stay revealed a significant reduction from 4.67 ± 1.18 days to 2.69 ± 1.02 days (P = 0.00). The use of Gastrografin in adhesive small bowel obstruction is safe and reduces the length of hospital stay. As a result, the cost of hospital bed occupancy is reduced. Hence, if there was no indication of emergency surgery, administration of oral Gastrografin as a nonoperative treatment in adhesive small bowel obstruction is also recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahmani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatics, School of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza Ali
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mohammadpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khoshnood
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, 18 kilometer of khazar abad road, P. Box: 48175-861, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Amirhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Assadpour
keywords: Abdominal surgery; Adhesion; Gastrografin®; Hospital stay; Small bowel obstruction