A comparison of two preparation regimens for oral cholecystography

Abstract

The increase in uric acid excretion produced by contrast agents used in cholecystography may be responsible for the acute renal failure that may rarely complicate this procedure. Encouragement of fluids as part of the preparation would be expected to reduce this risk. It is possible that this might affect the usefulness of the cholecystogram as a diagnostic procedure — although there is no evidence to suggest this. This report concerns a trial in which two regimens for oral cholecystography were compared — one in which fluid was prohibited and the other in which fluid (as two pints of water) was encouraged. The allocation to either preparation regimen was random. There was little difference in terms of quality of radiographs or detection of pathology between the two groups.