J Korean Soc Coloproctol.  2000 Dec;16(6):383-387.

Mechanical Bowel Preparation for Elective Colorectal Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Study Comparing Two Liters and Four Liters of Polyethylene Glycol-Based Oral Lavage Solutions

• Cho SI
• Yun SH
• Park JK
• Kim NK
• Sohn SK
• Min JS

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine whether a mechanical bowel preparation with 2 liters polyethylene glycol solution combined with a Bisacodyl 20 mg (Group II) increases the acceptability of bowel preparation and reduces discomfort compared with 4 liters of polyethylene glycol solution (Group I).
METHODS
We conducted a prospective randomized single-blinded study. Eighty patients undergoing an elective colorectal surgery in Severance hospital from April 1999 to September 1999 were included in this study. The patients' tolerance, cleansing ability and surgeon's satisfaction were assessed by a structured questionnaire. Postoperative complications were also evaluated.
RESULTS
The patients' tolerance of the group II (2 liters polyethylene glycol solution combined with a Bisacodyl 20 mg) was better than that of the groups I (4 liters of polyethylene glycol solution). The cleaning ability and surgeon's satisfaction were not different between two groups (p=0.225, p=0.322). The incidence of postoperative complications was 2.3 percent in Group I and 2.7 percent in Group II.
CONCLUSIONS
The mechanical bowel preparation with two liters of polyethylene glycol solution with a Bisacodyl 20 mg was more comfortable to patients and equally efficient compared with the mechanical bowel preparation with the 4 liters of polyethylene glycol solution regimen before elective colorectal surgery.

Keyword

Mechanical bowel preparation; Colorectal surgery

MeSH Terms

Bisacodyl
Colorectal Surgery*
Humans
Incidence
Polyethylene Glycols
Polyethylene*
Postoperative Complications
Prospective Studies*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Therapeutic Irrigation*
Bisacodyl
Polyethylene
Polyethylene Glycols