Colonoscopy Preparation
It is crucial to follow instructions and use the bowel preparation your doctor has ordered for your colonoscopy test. The prep you will use is determined by preexisting medical conditions and medical history.
Significance
The colonoscopy preparation will cleanse your bowel prior to an endoscopic test on your colon. The doctor must have a cleared bowel to access your entire intestinal tract to look for polyps, early stages of cancer or bowel disease.
Types
The doctor will chose a colon prep kit that his office or a pharmacist will provide to you. Polyethylene glycol lavage, sodium phosphate solution or sodium phosphate tablets are the three most widely used colon preparations.
Polyethylene Glycol Lavage
This is a flavored non-absorbable bowel cleanser that is labeled under Colyte or Golytely. You will receive a four-liter jug that contains a small amount of powder. Mix with tap water and drink approximately eight ounces of the solution every 10 minutes during the evening before the test.
Sodium Phosphate Solution and Tablets
To use sodium phosphate solution, drink two to three glasses of the salt solution with added fluids to flush out waste. The tablets are taken in a series of doses with clear liquids to pull water into the colon and flush it.
Patient Insight
Colon Preparation
The colon preparation will take the better part of an evening to fully complete. A patient will spend a good deal of time in the bathroom as the preparation solution evacuates the bowel.
Warning
Failure to complete the colon preparation to fully cleanse the bowel may lead to a rescheduled procedure. More importantly, a bowel that is not fully cleansed may lead to undetected lesions and lost time in making a proper diagnosis.
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