Intravenous cholangiography in normal and subsequently liver-damaged dogs.

When a 30-minute infusion is chosen for intravenous cholangiography, the optimal dose in subjects with normal and decreased hepatic function seems to be 0.6 ml/kg iodipamide. Delayed visualization of the ducts and gallbladder occurs in hepatic dysfunction, therefore, radiographs should be taken up to eight hours after the start of the examination if the cholangiogram is not diagnostic sooner. Prolonged infusion time, increased dosage, or both did not improve the radiographic results significantly when this method was not diagnostic. Contary to what is seen in obstructive jaundice, a markedly reduced gallbladder size, compared to its own baseline, was found in hepatic dysfunction.