Effect of narcotic premedication on scintigraphic evaluation of gallbladder perforation.

A case of gallbladder perforation is presented in which a small bile leak was demonstrated by cholescintigraphy while the patient was receiving meperidine, but not after meperidine was discontinued. The scintigrams obtained during meperidine therapy also showed a pattern of bile-duct obstruction. It is suggested that increased biliary pressure secondary to meperidine administration permitted visualization of the leak. Use of narcotic drugs may be a useful pharmacologic intervention in cases of peritonitis due to small or obscure bile leaks.