HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sefczek, D. M. Articles by Nichols, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sefczek, D. M. Articles by Nichols, K.

Effect of Narcotic Premedication on Scintigraphic Evaluation of Gallbladder Perforation

Donna M. Sefczek^*, Purna Sharma, Gilbert H. Isaacs, George J. Brodmerkel, Jr., Mustafa H. Adatepe, Oscar M. Powell and Kenneth Nichols

Divisions of Nuclear Medicine and Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Correspondence: For reprints contact: Gilbert H. Isaacs, MD, Div. of Nuclear Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15212-9986.

ABSTRACT

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.

FOOTNOTES

^* Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh PA 15212.

Present address: Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.