Gastrografin is a liquid radiocontrast agent containing iodine. Contrast medium Radiocontrast agents (also simply contrast agents or contrast materials) are compounds used to improve the visibility of internal bodily structures It may be used as an alternative to barium sulfate for medical imaging of the gastrointestinal tract. Barium sulfate is a white crystalline solid with the chemical formula BaSO4 Medical imaging refers to the techniques and processes used to create Images of the human body (or parts thereof for clinical purposes ( Medical procedures seeking to It is indicated for use in patients who are allergic to barium, or in cases where the barium might leak into the abdominal cavity.
Gastrografin may be used both as a liquid drink, or as an enema. An enema (plural enemata or enemas) is the procedure of introducing liquids into the Rectum and colon via the Anus.
The taste is foul, even when mixed and diluted with Kool-Aid or juice. Gastrografin does not coat the stomach/bowel lining as well as barium, thus it is used only as a last resort. In CT imaging water may be used as often. Computed tomography (CT is a Medical imaging method employing Tomography. If the patient has an allergy to iodine, barium sulfate will be administered and gastrografin, which contains iodine, must not be used.
Gastrografin is a hypertonic solution and therefore should be avoided in imaging studies of the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients who are at risk of aspiration, as it will cause prompt pulmonary edema if accidentally introduced into the tracheobronchial tree.
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