Intravenous Pro-banthine in Diagnostic Radiology of the Gastrointestinal Tract with Special Reference to Colonic Disease

The quaternary ammonium compound, propantheline bromide (“Pro-banthine”) has a powerful depressing action on the motility of the gastrointestinal tract when given intravenously in a dose of 30 mg. This action can be used in the course of radiological examinations to improve diagnosis. 2. As far as colonic disease is concerned, in which our experience is greatest, intravenous Pro-banthine has proved valuable in a variety of ways: in distinguishing a colonic block due to gross organic disease from one due principally or entirely to spasm, in distinguishing fibrous stricture from spasm and in the study of simple spastic colon. 3. Similarly it can be used in the course of radiological studies of other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, including the biliary system, although our own experience is not yet sufficient for a systematic analysis of the results. 4. Intravenous Pro-banthine has had only slight side-effects and we judge it to be safe to use in diagnostic radiology provided that certain simple precautions are taken as described in the text.