Evaluation of the gasless abdomen in the newborn and young infant with metrizamide.

The finding of a gasless abdomen on the abdominal radiograph of an infant over 12 hr old is usually abnormal and may reflect a serious pathologic disorder. Accurate diagnosis is important to plan appropriate therapy. A careful review of the clinical history and the plain chest and abdominal radiographs will often permit an accurate diagnosis to be made. In cases where the diagnosis remains in doubt, contrast studies of the bowel with metrizamide have proved helpful. This report presents six infants with gasless abdomens of unknown cause. In each case, a metrizamide contrast study of the bowel was helpful in providing an accurate diagnosis.