Whole gut irrigation: a survey of patient opinion

Patients' assessment of whole gut irrigation via a nasogastric tube has been obtained by a questionnaire answered by 79 of 99 patients who received this method of bowel preparation before operation on the large bowel or colonoscopy. Abdominal pain during the irrigation was experienced by 13 patients (17 per cent) and nausea and vomiting occurred in 24 (30 per cent). Intubation with a nasogastric tube and the discomfort of prolonged sitting on a commode were considered the most disagreeable aspects of the procedure. Fifty-six patients (71 per cent) would have agreed to the irrigation being repeated if necessary and many patients preferred whole gut irrigation to previous 'orthodox' bowel preparations that they had experienced.