Colonic Opacification Research Articles

Neonatal Microcolon Occlusion: About A Case and Review of the Literature

Microcolon is a rare radiological feature encountered during neonatal lower gastro intestinal obstruction. It results from a defect in the passage of digestive contents from the small intestines to the colon during fetal life. The etiologies involved are meconium ileus, ileojejunal atresia, and total colonic agonglion. The unprepared abdomen (UAP) and colonic opacification help to orient the diagnosis and the therapeutic attitude. We report the case of a neonate with a micro-colon occlusion by reviewing the data in the literature.

Fluid Tagging for CT Colonography

To evaluate the distal extent and attenuation of bowel opacification achieved after administration of a single low volume dose of oral contrast 2 hours before computed tomographic colonography (CTC) after incomplete optical colonoscopy. This retrospective study included 144 patients undergoing CTC after incomplete colonoscopy from April 2006 to July 2008 at 2 separate medical centers. Each patient received 20 to 30 mL of diatrizoate meglumine and diatrizoate sodium solution 2 hours before being scanned. The distalmost extent of opacification was: stomach/small bowel, n = 13; cecum, n = 2; ascending colon, n = 7; transverse colon, n = 19; descending colon, n = 14; sigmoid colon, n = 24; rectum, n = 65. The mean attenuation of each opacified segment was: cecum, 449 Hounsfield units (HU); ascending colon, 474 HU; transverse colon, 468 HU; descending colon, 421 HU; sigmoid colon, 391 HU; and rectum, 382 HU. In 103 (71.5%) patients, oral contrast reached the distal colon (descending colon, sigmoid colon, or rectum). The oral contrast did not reach the colon in only 13 (9.0%) patients. Oral administration of a small volume hyperosmolar oral contrast agent 2 hours before CTC results in satisfactory colonic opacification in the majority of patients. Adding same-day fluid tagging in incomplete colonoscopy patients presenting for completion CTC should result in adequate fluid opacification for most of the colon, especially proximal segments not visualized at the time of incomplete colonoscopy.

Colonic Opacification in a Patient With End-Stage Kidney Disease

Question: A 66-year-old woman with end-stage chronic kidney disease undergoing peritoneal dialysis for several years presented to the emergency department with diffuse abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed moderate diffuse abdominal tenderness. Routine laboratory evaluation revealed no seminal findings. Her medication consisted of aspirin, amlodipine, carvedilol, dihydralazine, lanthanum carbonate, l-thyroxine, simvastatin, erythropoietin, and torasemide. Microscopy of the peritoneal fluid excluded peritonitis.

Gall bladder and colonic opacification following parenteral iohexol

We would like to report a 20-year-old female presented with gradually progressive left renal angle tenderness for two years. Examination revealed fullness in the left renal angle and the ultrasound scan showed severe left hydronephrosis with a normal caliber ureter. (Published: 15 March 2010) Citation: Libyan J Med 2010, 5: 4902 - DOI: 10.3402/ljm.v5i0.4902

Stab wounds to the back and flank in the hemodynamically stable patient: A decision algorithm based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography with colonic opacification

The authors wanted to determine whether contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) with colonic opacification is an accurate tool to triage hemodynamically stable victims of stab wounds to the flank and back. One hundred forty-five consecutive patients were categorized as low-risk ( penetration superficial to the deep fascia) or high-risk (penetration beyond the deep fascia) based on CE-CT findings. There were no significant differences in admission vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale, or complete blood counts between low- and high-risk groups. None of the 92 low-risk patients required surgery or had sequelae. Six of the 53 high-risk patients underwent surgery, 2 based on initial CE-CT, 4 due to evolving clinical signs. The CE-CT correctly predicted surgical findings in all cases. Hemodynamically stable patients with stab wounds to the back and/or flank can be successfully triaged based on CE-CT findings. Low-risk patients may be discharged immediately. High-risk patients may have a discharge decision implemented at 24 hours.

Utility of ceruletide in promoting intestinal opacification for abdominal and pelvic computed tomography.

An analysis of the utility of parenteral ceruletide, a cholecystokinin-like synthetic decapeptide, in promoting bowel opacification for computed tomography (CT) scanning was performed. Abdominal and pelvic CT scans of 85 patients who had received intramuscular ceruletide following oral contrast administration and of 85 control patients were reviewed and the degree of bowel opacification evaluated. No significant advantage was conferred by ceruletide in opacifying the stomach or major part of the small intestine. However, a statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups in the presence or absence of contrast in the terminal ileum and right colon. Contrast was detected in the terminal ileum in 52 experimental compared with 35 control patients (p less than 0.009) and in the right colon in 56 experimental and 39 control subjects (p less than 0.01). Intramuscular administration of ceruletide will be helpful when terminal ileal opacification is essential or in patients in whom colonic opacification is desired but rectal contrast contraindicated.

Gall-bladder and colonic opacification following parenteral ioxaglate

Of 50 successive in-patients with normal blood urea levels who received ioxaglate (Hexabrix 320; May & Baker Ltd), 60% showed gall-bladder opacification 12-25 h later. None of these patients had been asked to fast after receiving the ioxaglate. This has not been reported previously with any of the presently available urographic media, either conventional or the new low-osmolality agents. This should be regarded as a normal occurrence and does not imply impairment of renal function.