ROENTGEN STUDIES IN EXPERIMENTAL COLONIC OBSTRUCTION

Experimental colon obstruction was produced in dogs and rabbits. The roentgenographic image as seen in the recumbent and erect abdominal roentgenograms was correlated with the clinical picture, the duration of obstruction, the intraluminal pressures and the autopsy studies. Roentgen findings seen in human colon obstruction such as fluid filled colon, mottled fluid content, ragged inner colonic contour, thickened septa and accentuated haustrations with increased number of septa were produced in the experimental animals.The correlative studies were indicative of the following: (a) gaseous distention with particulate fecal matter is indicative of early obstruction or mild obstruction with low intraluminal pressures. Mottled fluid is seen in more chronic obstruction with episodes of improvement. The degree of roentgen colonic distention correlates with the intraluminal pressure. (b) The ragged inner colonic contour is due to adherent secretions and fecal matter. (c) Thickened colonic septa are due to submucos...