[Results of 189 Visotrast studies in the differential diagnosis of acute intestinal obstruction].

In cases of an acute abdomen, bowel obstruction cannot always be excluded. In this case the administration of oral water soluble contrast media (Visotrast) is helpful. On the basis of their experience with 189 patients who underwent gastrointestinal x-ray examination with Visotrast (157 spontaneous mechanical obstruction, 32 postoperative ileus) the authors recommend this diagnostic procedure in difficult situations.