Preoperative bowel preparation with meglumine and sodium diatrizoate (Gastrografin): a prospective randomised comparison.
OBJECTIVE
To test the use of meglumine and sodium diatrizoate (Gastrografin) as an agent for preoperative mechanical bowel preparation.


METHODS
Prospective randomised comparison.


METHODS
County general hospital, Greece.


METHODS
58 patients listed for elective colorectal operations were randomly divided into 2 groups. The first (n = 30) was given Gastrografin 200 ml orally for 2 consecutive days before operation, and the second (n = 28) was given Ringer's solution through a nasogastric tube.


METHODS
Tolerability, acceptability, quality of cleansing, and complications.


RESULTS
There were no disturbances in electrolyte concentrations, and other laboratory variables also remained unchanged. Two patients treated with Ringer's solution had appreciable increases in arterial blood pressure, but there were no significant overall changes. About half the patients given Ringer's felt nauseated and a third vomited. Such symptoms were uncommon in patients treated with Gastrografin (p < 0.01). 28/30 and 26/28 (93%) had a clean colonic lumen at operation, whereas in the reminder the lumen was evaluated as containing "slight residue". There were no operation-related complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastrografin can be used successfully as an agent for mechanical bowel preparation before elective colorectal surgery, as it gives equally good cleansing results compared with the established method of whole gut irrigation. It also seems to be better tolerated and accepted by patients.
Koussidis
G A
GA
Department of Surgery, General Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly School of Medicine, Greece. gkousid@otenet.gr
Koussidis
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077331:Ringer's Solution
D003287:Contrast Media; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D000077331:Ringer's Solution