Transient megacolon after gastroscopy.

A 38-year-old man who developed abdominal distention and pain following fiberoptic gastroscopy is described. The patient had had an upper gastrointestinal roentgenographic series earlier, and the dilatation of the colon was thought to be due to entrapment of air in the proximal colon secondary to inspissated barium in the descending colon. Premedication with meperidine hydrochloride and atropine also may have been contributory. A saline enema relieved the patient's symptoms and a barium enema examination later showed a normal colon.