[Semitransparent peroral small bowel imaging (author's transl)].

171 follow-through examinations of the small bowel performed in children and adolescents with a large contrast medium meal and the high voltage - low density barium technique (10 to 25 g BaSO4/100 ml, depending on age), are described. A ready made suspension, diluted with water, proved unsatisfactory. Coating properties and stability of the diluted, weak suspension were then greatly improved by hydroxyethylcellulose as a thickening agent and in addition by premedication of the patient with cimetidine. Pure cellulose solution instead of the last portion of barium prevented thickening in the ileum. The procedure has the well known medium meal without the problem of overly dense superpositions.