[Vanner solution--a novel low-volume, patient-friendly colon preparation]

Many patients have great difficulty drinking the large volume of Fordtran solution, which has become the standard preparation for colonoscopy since 1980. We have evaluated a new method, using two 90-ml small-volume doses of oral sodium phosphate as osmotic laxative in 210 patients who had all had a previous colonoscopy preparation with Fordtran solution. Sodium phosphate was preferred by 81% of the patients, and it produced a better quality of cleansing at much lower cost. Oral sodium phosphate appears to be the preparation of choice for colonoscopy. Contraindications are congestive heart failure or renal insufficiency.