Does pre-scan oxygen improve ultrasonic imaging of the pancreas?

Ultrasonic imaging of the pancreas is often impaired by overlying bowel gas. Oxygen therapy has, in the past, been shown to be effective in reducing the gas in the cysts of pneumatosis coli. Using the same hypothesis, a randomized, single blind study comparing ultrasonic imaging of the pancreas with and without prior oxygen therapy was carried out. Fifty-eight consecutive patients with acute abdominal complaints were randomized to two groups: Group 1, control - no oxygen (n = 30, 14 male, 16 female, mean age 61.9 +/- 17.8 years); Group 2, treatment (n = 28, 14 male, 14 female, mean age 61.4 +/- 14.5 years) received oxygen therapy (100% humidified at 101/min for 8-10 h prior to the ultrasound). Pancreatic visualization was graded good, moderate or poor. Mean paO2 in Group 1 was 10.9 +/- 1kP and in Group 2 was 36 +/- 10.5kP (P < 0.001 unpaired t-test). Pancreatic visualization was: GOOD-Group 1, 8; Group 2, 19; MODERATE - Group 1, 8; Group 2, 4; POOR - Group 1, 14; Group 2, 5. Oxygen therapy is a safe, cheap, non-invasive method of improving pancreatic visualization and may act by reducing overlying bowel gas.