Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Patients undergoing colon cleansing before colonoscopy frequently experienced that it was hard to swallow 4 litres of the salty solution, polyethylene glycol (PEG).
OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this study was to test different regimens in order to find the regimen that both cleaned the colon properly and that was experienced comfortable for the patient.
METHODS:
83 hospitalised patients were prospectively randomised to receive either a standard 4 litres PEG, a 2 litres PEG combined with Bisacodyl, or a 2 litres PEG combined with Natriumpicosulphat. Nurses recorded demographic and clinical data. The patients filled out a detailed questionnaire related to comfort during the cleansing procedure. The endoscopists were blinded for the type of preparation used and assessed the colon on a scale from poor to excellent cleaned. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee Health Region II, Norway.
RESULTS:
There were no clinically significant differences neither in the endoscopists estimation of the cleanliness of the colon (p = 0.93) nor in the frequency and intensity of any of the 18 discomfort problems questioned (p = 0.32) and the regimens tested.
CONCLUSIONS:
All the regimens gave sufficient results and thereby the freedom to choose cleansing regimen before colonoscopy.