Does an antifoaming agent improve the quality of abdominal ultrasonography? A double-blind study with special reference to the pancreas, the aorta and the para-aortic region.

To overcome the effects of intestinal gas which may be a problem for ultrasound examinations, a double-blind study was undertaken in 42 patients in whom the first ultrasound examination was unsatisfactory due to excessive intestinal gas. The patients received either a liquid dimeticon preparation over 24 hours (total dosage 480 mg) or a placebo. Criteria for the evaluation of the treatment were the ability to visualize the pancreas, the aorta and the para-aortic region at the second examination. The quality of the ultrasonic images was found to be improved in 52% of the controls by repetition and in 71% of the test substance group, the difference being not significant (p greater than 0.05). It is concluded that: It is worthwhile asking the patient to return for a second examination 24 hours later before resorting to invasive and/or expensive procedures when the first scan was of poor quality and liquid dimeticon has no significant defoaming effect in these patients.