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Is Same-Day Sonography of the Gallbladder Feasible After Intravenous Urography or Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography?

Unit of Radiology, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Omar Khan, Radiology Department, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Champs Fleurs, Trinidad, West Indies.

Objective. To determine whether same-day sonographic evaluation of the gallbladder is possible after the use of oral or intravenous iodinated contrast agents during intravenous urography or computed tomography. Methods. One hundred fifty-three patients involved in this prospective study received low-osmolar or conventional contrast material. Each preparation contained 300 mg/mL iodine. Sixty-six patients received contrast agents intravenously, and 87 received them orally. Gallbladder volume was estimated sonographically, and the precontrast volume was used to calculate the volume after contraction at 30-minute intervals up to 2 hours after contrast agent administration. Results. Gallbladder volume returned to precontrast values at 2 hours irrespective of the type of contrast agent or route of administration. The mean volume after contraction at 0.5 hour was 71% after intravenous contrast agent administration and 76% after oral contrast agent administration. Both changes were statistically significantly different from precontrast values (P < .01, null hypothesis) and were unaffected by the osmolarity of the contrast agent. Conclusions. Gallbladder volume was restored to precontrast values 2 hours after contrast agent administration. Thus any strategy involving simultaneous same-day sonographic or computed tomographic assessment of the gallbladder after contrast agent administration can be confidently undertaken after this period. This finding may have cost-saving implications.

Abbreviations: CCK, cholecystokinin • CT, computed tomography • IV, intravenous • IVU, intravenous urography • V_c, percent volume change after contraction

Key Words: computed tomography • contrast agents, oral, intravenous • gallbladder • intravenous urography