THE OPTIMUM BOWEL PREPARATION FOR FLEXIBLE SIGMOIDOSCOPY

With the proposed introduction of a flexible sigmoidoscopic screening programme for colorectal cancer, patient compliance is of paramount im portance, Therefore, the bowel preparation providing optimum cleansing of the bowel with the least associated discomfort and inconvenience f or the patient must be found. Patients were randomized to receive eith er Picolax the evening before the examination or self-administered Fle et enemas prior to the investigation, The endoscopist and nurse practi tioner who collected data on a standard questionnaire were blinded to the preparation used. Bowel preparation was graded by the endoscopist as: excellent, good, adequate or poor, One hundred and two consecutive patients were randomized: 55 to the Fleet enema group and 46 to the P icolax group, Self-administered Fleet enemas provided a significantly superior bowel preparation with 52 (93%) being judged adequate or bett er, as opposed to 34 (74%) in the Picolax group, In addition, meet ene mas were associated with significantly fewer adverse associated sympto ms: 11 (20%) vs 24 (52%). Patients reported to be willing to receive F leet enemas again in 53 (95%) vs 37 (80%) for the Picolax group. The s elf-administered Fleet enema is superior to Picolax in terms of bowel preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy and the incidence of associated adverse symptoms.