A new magnesium-containing PEG-electrolyte solution for the oral lavage ofthe colon

AIM: The aim of the present study was to verify whether the addition of mag nesium ions to an electrolyte solution containing polyethylene glycol (PEG- ELS) for the oral lavage of the colon increases barium mucosal coating at t he time of double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The two patients from 60 pairs of patients undergoin g DCBE with a standardized technique were randomly subjected to bowel prepa ration with sennosides and an isotonic PEG-ELS (SELG(R). Promefarm, Italy), or sennosides and a modified isotonic SELG preparation to which 7.5 g/l of magnesium sulphate were added. Mucosal coating, residual fluid and colon c leansing were assessed independently by three radiologists. The null hypoth esis was tested by means of Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. RESULTS: Barium mucosal coating was judged to be significantly better in th e SELG-Mg members (P<0.0001). The amount of residual fluid was significantl y lower in SELG-Mg members (P<0.0001). There was no difference in colon cle ansing (P = 0.690), These results demonstrate, in a simple way, that magnes ium ions increase barium coating of the colon mucosa in vivo, The underlyin g mechanism seems to be the increase in viscosity of barium suspension by f ree water subtraction erring to the hydrophilia of magnesium ions. CONCLUSION: The integration of magnesium in a newly designed isotonic PEG-E LS could be the correcting factor for the poor barium mucosal coating that normal solutions for the oral colon lavage induce.