Acceleration of small intestine contrast study by ceruletide.

The effect of ceruletide on the small bowel transit time of barium sulfate suspension was studied in 165 patients. The control group consisted of 115 cases. An intramuscular injection of 500--750 ng/kg body weight ceruletide was given in 106 cases (group A), 20 ng/kg ceruletide was intravenously injected in 35 patients (group B), and 40 ng/kg was intravenously injected in 24 cases (group C). The mean transit time in group A was 62 +/- 41 min (mean +/- SD), and 126 +/- 62 min in the corresponding control group of 83 cases. (P less than 0.001). The mean transit time in group B was 65 +/- 50 min, and 69 +/- 56 min in group C, whereas in the corresponding control group of 32 cases the mean transit time was 137 +/- 79 min (P less than 0.01). A normal radiographic pattern was found in 75%, and slightly increased segmental contractions in 21%. Overtonicity and pronounced segmental contractions were seen in 4%. The recommended standardized small bowel study using ceruletide reduces the examination time by roughly one-half and produces simultaneous and uniform opacification of the jejunum and ileum.