The value of Gastrografin in the differential diagnosis of paralytic ileus versus mechanical intestinal obstruction: a critical review and report of two cases.

Two cases in which serious intra-abdominal complications were masked by results of the contrast examination using Gastrografin were encountered. This caused the authors to review critically the use of Gastrografin in the differential diagnosis of paralytic ileus versus mechanical intestinal obstruction. In a series of 41 cases in which the diagnostic problem was not solved initially by means of physical examination and plain abdominal roentgenograms, the Gastrografin examination proved reliable in 28 (68 per cent). The reliability of the examination was defined as the relative number of cases in which a correct decision could be made for or against surgical operation. It is concluded that Gastrografin is a valuable diagnostic aid in controversial cases of ileus. A "negative" result of the examination, however, would never be allowed to damp the surgeon's awareness of possible serious intra-abdominal conditions, which the contrast examination has failed to disclose and which require immediate surgical intervention.