Long Charles Tyler, Page Richard B, Howard Antwain M, McKeon Gabriel P, Felt Stephen A
Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Research Animal Facility 1, 287 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305-5410, USA.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2010 Jan-Feb;51(1):42-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2009.01619.x.
Red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) commonly develop intestinal obstruction. The gastrointestinal transit time in turtles tends to be longer than in other animals, making a rapid diagnosis of obstruction difficult. Fifteen red-eared sliders were given either Gastrografin or 30% w/v barium sulfate orally to compare ease of administration, transit time, and image quality. Each contrast medium was easy to administer but barium sulfate had to be administered more slowly (mean = 40s) than Gastrografin (mean = 20s) to prevent regurgitation. The mean transit and emptying time of Gastrografin was at least 9 h faster than barium sulfate at all time points except gastric transit. Both contrast media had a smooth, uniform appearance that outlined the mucosa with well-defined margins within the stomach and proximal small intestine. Dilution of Gastrografin occurred as it progressed through the intestines, resulting in decreased opacity in the distal small intestine and colon. Pre-administration packed cell volume and total serum protein levels of four turtles receiving Gastrografin were compared with levels at 24-, 96-, and 168-hours postadministration as well as to four control turtles not receiving contrast medium. Packed cell volume and total serum protein levels did not significantly differ among the Gastrografin and control group. From a clinical perspective, administration of Gastrografin allows for quicker results with only minor hematologic changes in red-eared sliders, but visualization of this contrast medium in the lower gastrointestinal tract may be insufficient for an accurate diagnosis.
红耳龟（滑龟指名亚种）常发生肠梗阻。龟的胃肠道转运时间往往比其他动物更长，这使得肠梗阻的快速诊断变得困难。给15只红耳龟口服泛影葡胺或30%（w/v）硫酸钡，以比较给药的难易程度、转运时间和图像质量。每种造影剂给药都很容易，但为防止反流，硫酸钡的给药速度（平均 = 40秒）必须比泛影葡胺（平均 = 20秒）更慢。除胃转运外，在所有时间点，泛影葡胺的平均转运和排空时间比硫酸钡至少快9小时。两种造影剂在胃和近端小肠内均呈现出光滑、均匀的外观，清晰勾勒出黏膜边缘。泛影葡胺在通过肠道时会发生稀释，导致远端小肠和结肠的不透明度降低。将4只接受泛影葡胺的龟给药前的红细胞压积和总血清蛋白水平与给药后24小时、96小时和168小时的水平进行比较，并与4只未接受造影剂的对照龟进行比较。泛影葡胺组和对照组的红细胞压积和总血清蛋白水平无显著差异。从临床角度来看，给红耳龟使用泛影葡胺能更快得到结果，且血液学变化较小，但这种造影剂在胃肠道下部的显影可能不足以进行准确诊断。
