Objective：To assess the therapeutic effect of gastrografin therapy in adhesive small bowel obstruction.
Methods：One hundred and forty-six patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction, during January 2007 and June 2009, were randomized divided into receive gastrografin tretment group (n=72) and control group (n=74). Gastrografin therapy group received 80-100 mL of gastrografin either orally or via a nasogastric tube. The time before admission, relief time of successful nonoperative treatment, time before operation of unsuccessful nonoperative treatment, obstruction relief rate, hospitalization time and cost of hospitalization were compared.
Results：In study group, 50 cases (69.4%) had successful outcome, which was higher than the 46.0%(34/74) of control group (P＜0.05); the average symptomatic relief time was (1.90±1.03) d shorter than that of control group (3.20±1.95)d（P＜0.05）. Twenty-two cases (30.6%) of gastrografin therapy group were not relieved, The time before operation of unsuccessful nonoperative treatment, hospitalization time and cost of hospitalization were significantly less than that of controls (P<0.05).
Conclusions：Gastrografin therapy can increase the rate of successful nonoperative treatment，accelerates resolution of adhesive small bowel obstruction, and shorten surgical decision-making time for unsuccessful nonoperative treatment. It also can reduce the hospitalization time and cost of hospitalization.