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Colon cleansing regimens

A clinical study in 1200 patients

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Abstract

The purgative effect of bisacodyl, anthraquinone glycosides (Cascara), and sodium picosulfate, alone or in combination with a saline purge and a tap water enema, was studied in 1200 patients. The cleansing effect was scored with regard to retained fecal residue evident on double-contrast studies of the colon.

The combination of a contact laxative and a saline purge produced good cleansing effect in 52%–80% of the patients. With an additional tap water enema given 1 hour before the colon examination, however, 96% of the colons were clean.

The taste and the effects of the cleansing systems were tolerated favorably by more than 90% of the patients. However, 17% reported restriction in work capacity on the day of bowel cleansing.

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Fork, F.T., Ekberg, O., Nilsson, G. et al. Colon cleansing regimens. Gastrointest Radiol 7, 383–389 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01887677

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01887677

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