To evaluate the usefulness of multidetector-row CT (MDCT) with gastric luminal distention using effervescent granules in patients with previous subtotal gastrectomy for the evaluation of the stomach, anastomotic site and jejunum, and to compare its findings with those of spiral CT using oral contrast media in the same patients.

Thirty-one patients (M:F=25:6, mean age; 58 years) with previous subtotal gastrectomy, who underwent both spiral CT using oral contrast media and MDCT using effervescent granules, were studied. The distensibility of the gastric lumen, anastomotic site and jejunal lumen was graded as either poor, fair or good. The thickening or mass of the gastric and small bowel wall was also evaluated.

The distensibility of the gastric lumen, anastomotic site and jejunal lumen were better demonstrated by MDCT using effervescent granules than by spiral CT using an oral contrast agent (p<0.05). The distensibility of the stomach and jejunum was similar in 14 cases (45.2%) on spiral CT and 16 cases (51.6%) on MDCT. The anastomotic site was better demonstrated when effervescent granules were used than when oral contrast media was used in 21 cases (67.7%). No cases of poor distention of the stomach or anastomotic site were detected when using effervescent granules.

Follow-up MDCT using effervescent granules showed better distensibility of the gastric lumen, anastomotic site and jejunal lumen than spiral CT using oral contrast media in all of the patients having undergone subtotal gastrectomy.