Comparison of Image Quality of Excretory Urography With Lodixanol and Na- Meglumine Diatrizoate After Experimental Ureteral Anastomosis in Dogs

BACKGROUND: An experimental study with randomized, double-blind crossover trial in excretory urography with Iodixanol (320 mgI/ml) and Na- Meglumine Diatrizoate (760 mgI/ml) in dogs. OBJECTIVES: To compare images quality between Iodixanol and Na- Meglumine Diatrizoate after ureteral anastomosis. METHODS: In this study six healthy mongrel dogs weighing between 15-30 kg were used. Before surgery, all dogs randomly received both drugs in 3 day intervals and control excretory radiography with Iodixanol (500 mgI/kg) and Na- Meglumine Diatrizoate (850 mgI/kg) were taken in all of them at  1, 5, 10, 15,30 and 45 minutes after contrast media injection. After midline celiotomy, left ureter near trigon area was incised and immediately end to end anastomosis was performed in simple interrupted pattern by using polydiaxanon 6/0. After operation at day 90 the same radiographs were taken in all animals. After completion of the study, the obtained radiographs were evaluated and compared independently by a radiologist who was unaware of the used contrast media. The urograms were scored in four categories from lack of opacity (grade zero) to excellent image quality (grade 3) for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Better nephrograms were obtained in right kidneys at 1, 5 and 15 minutes after injection of Iodixanol compared to Na- Meglumine Diatrizoate and in left kidneys the nephrograms were better with Iodixanol injection at  1 minute (P<0.05). With respect to pyelograms in right ureters, Iodixanol had better quality at 1, 10 and 15 minutes (P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences in pyelograms quality in left ureters. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results about better images quality of iodixanol and with regard to the literature that have reported less nephrotoxicity in non-ionic and isotonic iodinated X-ray contrast medium, it can be concluded, Iodixanol is the better drug for excretory urography after ureteral anastomosis in dogs