Oral barium sulfate in partial large-bowel obstruction.

Nine dogs underwent a surgically created partial obstruction of the large bowel and were then given oral barium sulfate. The residual lumen of the obstructed portion varied from 4 to 10 mm in diameter. Clinical obstruction did not develop, and all dogs passed the barium sulfate in 1 to 16 days. This limited study plus certain clinical observations would suggest that barium sulfate proximal to a partial large-bowel obstruction may not be as dangerous as commonly thought.