A comparison of the value of hyoscine butylbromide and glucagon on aorto iliac intravenous digital subtraction.

The diagnostic quality of intravenous subtraction aorto-iliac arteriograms was assessed in 60 patients randomly allocated to receive either hyoscine butylbromide or glucagon as an inhibitor of bowel peristalsis. The examinations in patients receiving hyoscine butylbromide showed statistically significantly less artefact due to bowel movement than those receiving glucagon. Furthermore, glucagon is 20 times more expensive than hyoscine butylbromide. Neither drug produced significant ECG changes or side effects. We conclude that intravenous hyoscine butylbromide should be used routinely, except where specifically contra-indicated, in all patients undergoing IV-DSA of the aorto-iliac segments.