Sonography of the small bowel after oral administration of fluid: an assessment of the diagnostic value of the technique

This study was performed to assess the feasibility and possible advantages of bowel sonography after fluid filling of intestinal loops compared with conventional sonography. Forty-five consecutive patients with known or suspected coeliac disease (35 females, ten males; age range 11–65 years) prospectively underwent sonography before and after ingestion of 750 ml of an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol. Results before and after fluid distension were compared to assess whether luminal filling improved small-bowel visualisation. Luminal filling improved visualisation of intestinal features (luminal diameter, mucosal folds, parietal layers) in 77.6% of cases (marked, moderate or mild improvement in 2, 16 and 17 patients; 4.4%, 35.5% and 37.7%), respectively, and showed no change or worsening in 20% and 2.2% nine and one patient), respectively. Baseline examination showed abnormal features in 13/25 celiac patients (dilated fluid-filled loops, increased peristalsis, transient intussusception, mesenteric lymph nodes, intraperitoneal fluid). Reexamination after luminal filling showed additional abnormalities in six of the previous 13 and in three further coeliac patients. There were no false positive signs due to fluid administration. Luminal filling can improve visualisation of bowel walls and fold pattern and may be helpful in selected cases.