Gastrografin is used in imaging to evaluate which postoperative complication?

• A. Anastomotic leak
• B. Pneumothorax
• C. Bowel obstruction
• D. Hiatal hernia

Answer: (A)

Gastrografin, a water-soluble iodine-based contrast, is used to test the integrity of a gastrointestinal anastomosis after surgery. By administering it and taking radiographs, clinicians can see whether contrast remains within the bowel or leaks through a surgical join into the abdominal cavity. This makes it especially useful for detecting an anastomotic leak, a potentially serious postoperative complication. The reason this is preferred in the leak context is that, if leakage occurs, Gastrografin is less irritating than barium if it spills into the peritoneum. Other conditions listed—pneumothorax, bowel obstruction, and hiatal hernia—are evaluated with different imaging approaches (chest imaging for pneumothorax; plain films or CT for obstruction; upper GI series or endoscopy for a hiatal hernia) and do not specifically rely on a leak-test contrast study of a surgical join.