The use of low osmolality water soluble (LOWS) contrast media in the pediatric gastro-intestinal tract. A report of 115 examinations.

There are dangers in the use of either barium sulphate suspensions or the conventional hypertonic water soluble contrast media in the gastrointestinal tract of "at risk" babies and children. These dangers can be avoided by the use of low osmolality water soluble (LOWS) contrast media. This paper reports the satisfactory use of three such contrast media, ioxaglate (Hexabrix), iohexol (Omnipaque) and iopamidol (Niopam) in 115 examinations of the gastrointestinal tracts of 89 babies and children. Morbidity from the inhalation or extravasation of contrast medium was negligible. It is proposed that LOWS contrast media should be used more widely in the gastro-intestinal investigation of all "at risk" babies and children.