Intravenous hyoscine as a premedication for colonoscopy: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
There is wide variation in the use of antispasmodics to facilitate colonoscopy, both within and between countries, and its use before such procedures remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was any objective benefit in using hyoscine as a premedication for colonoscopy in a district general hospital.


METHODS
Consecutive day-case patients undergoing colonoscopy were included in the study. They were prospectively randomly allocated to receive either intravenous hyoscine (n = 61) or intravenous placebo (n = 56) as part of their premedication.


RESULTS
Our analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to the median time from colonoscope insertion to caecal intubation (9.7 minutes in the hyoscine group vs. 8.3 minutes in the placebo group) or the median total procedure time (14.8 minutes in the hyoscine group vs. 13.8 minutes in the placebo group). There was also no statistically significant difference in success rates for caecal intubation between the two groups ( P < 0.06). However a type II error cannot be excluded because of the small sample size.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated no obvious benefit in the routine use of hyoscine as a premedication for colonoscopy in a district general hospital setting.
Kingston Hospital NHS Trust, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, UK. kevin.yoong@kingstonhospital.nhs.uk
K Y
KY
Yoong
D
D
Perkin
J
J
Portal
I
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Strickland
T
T
Heymann
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002086:Butylscopolammonium Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies
D010276:Parasympatholytics; D002086:Butylscopolammonium Bromide