title: Comparison of three types of preparations for abdominal sonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this randomized, prospective study was to evaluate the effect of three preparation types on the abdominal sonographic examination quality and on patient acceptance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Examinations were performed on 611 patients in the imaging department of a referral oncology center. Patients were divided into three groups: preparation with fasting, water, laxatives, and antiflatulents (Group I), preparation with fasting, water, and antiflatulents alone (Group II), or preparation with fasting and water alone (Group III). The examination quality was evaluated both objectively through grades and subjectively through impressions. Statistical significance was set at the p ≤ 0.05 level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference in examination quality was seen among patients with or without medication. Improved visualization of the retroperitoneum in the mid abdomen was observed among Group I patients. Patients in Groups II and III displayed fewer side effects. Other variables, such as obesity and increased abdominal wall thickness, also impacted the image quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visualization of the abdominal organs was satisfactory even in patients who had only fasted and received water. The use of laxative and antiflatulent preparations is not required before routine abdominal ultrasound examinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital A C Camargo, Rua Prof. Antônio Prudente, 211, 01509-010, São Paulo SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula N V
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chojniak
authors.forename: Marcela P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Liao S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Marcony
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Queiroz-Andrade
authors.forename: Almir G V
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bitencourt
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000934:Antifoaming Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000934:Antifoaming Agents; D054368:Laxatives; D014867:Water