Comparison of meperidine versus hyoscine during colonoscopy in the elderly: a prospective randomized study

Colonoscopy is the gold standard in diagnosis of diseases of the colon. Sedation and antispasmodic agents are recommended during colonoscopy. Age is a limiting factor when the surgeon is deciding whether to use these medications or not.

One hundred twenty patients older than 65 years of age were randomized into two groups. The first group (n=60) received 2 mg of midazolam and 25 mg of meperidine intravenously. The second group (n=60) received 2 mg of midazolam and 20 mg of hyoscine N-butylbromide intravenously. The data collected were colonoscopy procedure time, time to cecum, visual analog pain scale, systolic blood pressure before and after the procedure, pulse, partial oxygen pressure, comfort of the endoscopist, the modified observer's assessment of alertness/sedation scale, and morbidity.

Total colonoscopy and cecal reach times were shorter in Group 2 (19.58±4.82 minutes and 10.57±2.54 minutes, respectively) than in Group 1 (25.05±5.93 minutes and 13.78±3.37 minutes, respectively) (P<.001). The sedation score of Group 2 (4.52±0.50) was better than that of Group 1 (3.45±0.75) (P<.001). Nine patients (15%) in Group 1 experienced diaphoresis, temporary memory loss, or lip smacking. Three patients in Group 1 and 1 patient in Group 2 had hypoxia. Three patients in Group 1 had hypotension; this was seen in 1 patient in Group 2. One patient had perforation in Group 1. The visual analog scale score was 4.37±1.38, and the endoscopist satisfaction was 6.72±0.99 in Group 1, while these values were 3.95±0.81 and 7.75±0.89, respectively, in Group 2 (P>.05).

Use of midazolam and hyoscine N-butylbromide during colonoscopy is safe in the elderly and significantly reduces procedure time while increasing comfort for the endoscopist.