Whole gut lavage for colonoscopy. A comparison between preparation at home or at the hospital

The clinical efficiency and patient acceptability of peroral colonic lavage with a 3 liters balanced electrolyte solution (BES), when performed either at the hospital on the day of colonoscopy or during the preceding evening in the patient's home, was evaluated in 62 consecutive outpatients. No significant difference was found between adequacy of bowel preparation, when the lavage was performed in the patient's home or at the hospital. The bowel preparation was found to be satisfactory in 61% and 77% of the patients. The percentage of sufficient preparation was 60% of the patients, who were not able to drink 3 litres of BES within the 2-hours period. This study demonstrated that colonic lavage with BES could be performed equally well at home the day before colonoscopy as at the hospital on the day of colonoscopy. The relatively low rate of sufficient preparation was related to the fixed and small volume of BES ingested. To improve the adequacy of bowel preparation a graded intake of BES is suggested.