Authors reviewed water-soluble contrast follow-up studies in 23 patients with suspected acute small bowel obstruction with the aim to determine the value of this method. They assessed whether clinical management, patients’ outcomes and medical care costs are influenced, and they propose a standard technique of the examination. They compared radiological findings of all patients with the clinical course in succeeding period and in 9 patients also their findings on laparotomy. Complete small bowel obstruction was ruled out by radiology in 14 of 23 patients (61 %), conservative treatment was continued in 13 of 23 patients (57 %). In 1 case radiology suggested a complete small bowel obstruction but the patient’s improved condition was a more reliable indicator for non-ope- rative treatment. In 2 patients without radiological signs of complete small bowel obstruction laparotomy was performed due to obstruction of the colon. In both these patients with non-operable gynaecological tumours colostomy was made. One patient with suspected small bowel obstruction was operated during the following hospital stay for paraoesophageal hernia which was discovered by contrast examination. As most important authors consider that in 4 of 20 patients (20 %) not only a complete small bowel obstruction was ruled out but also that they were free of all obstructive symptoms or passed their first stool immediately after the water-soluble contrast examination.

        Key words: small intestine - small bowel obstruction - radiography - water-soluble contrast medium