Bowel Preparation

Bowel Preparation

Bowel Preparation is a medical procedure during which the patient’s intestines are emptied and cleansed in order to permit the use of a diagnosis procedure such as x-ray scanning to detect certain processes (disease processes in particular) in the patient’s intestines. Also, this procedure may be employed as part of the preparation for surgical interventions (for example operations to reduce the diameter of the intestines or excision of cancer or polyps).

Bowel Preparation is often employed prior to such procedures as colonoscopies (a procedure with both therapeutic and diagnostic functions, as it permits observation of the colon and treatment for certain affections, such as polyps). Such a procedure involves the use of a sigmoidoscopy scope, a flexible tube that is inserted into the sigmoid colon through the rectum. The device can be used to detect affections such as colorectal cancer, or may be used to cauterize polyps by applying an electric current to the polyps, incinerating them. This procedure is safe and does not last long- typically around 30 to 45 minutes in the vast majority of cases. Also as a diagnostic procedure, colonoscopy operations allow the health care professionals to evaluate rectal bleeding and abnormal presences detected through the use of other body imaging procedures.

Examples of other operations which may be performed by use of colonoscopic techniques and which require Bowel Preparation include biopsies, removal of foreign bodies, evaluation of polyp or colorectal cancer recurrence, evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease or of chronic diarrhea or procedures aimed at correcting the position of twisted bowel. The procedure may also be employed to treat bleeding lesions and allows prophylactic surveillance in the case of patients with family history of colon cancer.

Your personal health care specialist may require a Bowel Preparation procedure as part of the preparation for an operation which is not included in this leaflet. If you are not sure why you should undergo this procedure, it is strongly suggested that you request additional information from your personal physician.

Bowel Preparation Description

Bowel Preparation procedures are employed in order to clear the intestines and colon of any contents in preparation for other medical procedures such as barium enema (the insertion of a barium-based compound in order to allow better intestinal visualization on x-ray photographs) or colonoscopies. The intestines may be cleansed by administration of oral laxative medication along with a temporary strict diet; this will allow the rapid excretion of the intestinal contents while also ensuring that new matter forms.

Currently, the procedure also involves prophylactic administration of antibiotic medicines, especially in the case of patients who are susceptible to developing infections. Also, in some cases, the Bowel Preparation may prove stressful to certain patients (especially patients that are already suffering from nutritional disorders such as malabsorption or other affections common during cancer therapy). Also, many patients dislike the taste of the laxative medication and as such find it difficult to swallow. Side effects associated with laxative use may also appear under the form of nausea and vomiting, intestinal gas, mouth dryness, stomach cramps or an increase in thirst. In some cases these side effects may be suppressed by taking an electrolyte supplement at the same time with the laxative medication, and also an oral solution based on sodium phosphate to avoid dehydration.

Hypersensitivity reactions to laxatives have also been reported. It is imperative that the patient announces his or her personal health care specialist immediately once he or she begins experiencing any of the common symptoms of an allergic reaction – irritation, hives, itching, swelling of the throat, face or tongue, tightness in the chest or breathing difficulties. In most cases, allergic reactions are severe and require prompt medical care.

Modern medical procedures and new techniques may cause the Bowel Preparation technique to become obsolete in the future; for example, CT scanning of the colon (virtual colonoscopy) has proven to be as accurate as the traditional methods in investigating and diagnosing colorectal disorders and cancerous tumors. Also, these procedures have the advantage of being much faster than the traditional methods – a computerized CT colonography takes less than 30 seconds to complete – as well as less intrusive.

Bowel Preparation Related Medication

There are several pharmaceutical preparations with laxative effect available for use during Bowel Preparation. The most common and effective are Colyte (a solution based on polyethylene glycol), Phospho-Soda (solution containing sodium phosphate), and magnesium citrate along with Bisacodyl tablets or castor oil along with Bisacodyl tablets. The patient should receive a dose of one such medicine at around 4 p.m. the day before the actual procedure. Typically, the patients will refrain from eating solid foods for 36 hours prior to this procedure.

Apart from the above, other laxative preparations are also available, and your prescriber may direct you to use a medicine that is not listed in this guide. In such cases it is strongly recommended that you disregard the above and use the medicine that your physician has directed. Apart from laxative products, the supervising health care professional may direct the administration of antibiotic drugs as part of the standard prophylactic measures. The supervising physician will determine the appropriate dosage and administration schedule, and you may be required to continue taking these medicines until it is certain that you are not at any risk of infections. In most cases, it is best to discuss the matter with your personal health care provider to learn the details of your prophylactic treatment.

If you are following another medication treatment at the time you have to undergo the Bowel Preparation procedure, you will be allowed to continue taking your current medication as usual, however you will need to swallow the medication with tap water or other clear liquids, although it is best that you inform the supervising health care professional in advance so that he may be aware of the situation and offer you advice. Also, as accidental drug reactions are possible, it is best to make sure that no interactions are possible between your current medication and the pharmaceutical products employed during Bowel Preparation.