Background: Small bowel obstruction is one of the most common surgical emergencies and main causes of hospital admissions. Diatrizoate Meglumine Gastrografin, a hyperosmolar water-soluble contrast agent, has been used to triage patients with small bowel obstruction for an operative or a non-operative management. It can also have a therapeutic effect by increasing the pressure gradient across obstructive sites that may result in resolving the obstruction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the gastrografin effect in the resolution of small bowel obstruction.

Patients and Methods: In this cross sectional–descriptive study, gastrografin was given to patients diagnosed with small bowel obstruction in clinical and radiological grounds . The contrast passage was assessed by serial X-rays. If the contrast remained in the small bowel, a decision was made as to whether proceed to surgical intervention, based on clinical condition. The patients were divided into two groups: A, who finally required surgery, and B, who were resolved by gastrografin administration.

Results: Forty six patients were entered into the study. Thirty seven of the patients (80%) received a non-operative course in whom the contrast was observed in the large bowel. They had a mean hospital stay of 4.6 days. Nine patients (20%) required operative intervention. These patients had a mean hospital stay of 8 days.

Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that gastrografin was highly effective in the management of adhesive small bowel obstruction resulting in a decreased need for surgery and hospital stay.