Glucagon enhancement of cholangiography. A preliminary report

C. A. Tabak, P. L. Tuxen, D. L. Bruce and G. L. Juler

Fourteen patients having cholecystectomies under general anesthesia were divided into two groups in a double-blind study. All had intraoperative cholangiograms, before which half had glucagon hydrochloride given intravenously in a dose of 1 mg; the others received only normal saline solution. There was a consistently superior visualization of the biliary tree in those given glucagon, and the difference was statistically significant. No significant changes in blood glucose level, heart rate, or ECG patterns were noted in either group. One patient with preoperative hypertension had a brief rise in BP after the glucagon was given. This study confirms previous anecdotal reports suggesting that glucagon in low dose enhances the quality of cholangiography without producing side effects.