Pyeloureteral visualization using glucagon during intravenous urography.

194 adult patients were subjected to intravenous urography. In order to study the effect of glucagon on the visualization of the pyeloureteral system, IVU's were performed in four different ways: I. with abdominal compression, II. with glucagon 1 mg i.v., III. without abdominal compression and without glucagon, and IV, with abdominal compression and glucagon 1 mg. i.v. Coded objective and subjective analyses showed significant worsened visualization of the pyelocalyceal systems, when IVU was performed with glucagon alone. Ureteral visualization was equal to all four groups. Glucagon fails as a pharmacological alternative to abdominal compression in adult human subjects.