[Combination intestinal lavage: a conservative procedure for colonoscopy]

The purpose of this study was to optimize the cleaning for colonoscopy. We compared a combination of senna pods and Goleytely solution to the exclusive ingestion of 7 litres of Goleytely solution. Test parameters were the score of visual assessment in five regions of the large bowel, the distension of the abdomen, concentration of hydrogen and methane in intestinal gases and subjective informations about abdominal complaints. We concluded from 80 colonoscopies that the combined procedure was almost identical with the cleaning by voluminal ingestions of Goleytely solution. There were no differences in the scores of visual assessment or concerning the intestinal gases. The additional administration of simethicone resulted in a statistically significant decrease of foam production. Thus, the combination of senna pods, a reduced ingestion of Goleytely solution supplemented with simethicone can be recommended for colonoscopy.