title: Laxatives for bowel clearing before investigations.
abstract: It is important to clear the bowel of its contents thoroughly before colonoscopy or radiological procedures such as barium enema. This article reviews laxatives for bowel clearing that can be taken by patients at home prior to the procedure. We concentrate on drug efficacy and patient acceptability.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D006801:Humans; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D010710:Phosphates / Q000009:adverse effects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C018279:sodium phosphate