Gastrograffin

Gastrograffin is a liquid radiocontrast agent containing iodine. It may be used as an alternative to barium sulfate for medical imaging of the gastrointestinal tract. It is indicated for use in patients who are allergic to barium, or in cases where the barium might leak into the abdominal cavity.

Gastrograffin may be used both as a liquid drink, or as an enema.

The taste is foul, even when mixed and diluted with Kool-Aid or juice. Gastrograffin 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.

If the patient has an allergy to iodine, barium sulfate will be administered and gastrograffin, which contains iodine, must not be used.

Gastrograffin 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.