Bowel preparation

 

Before the procedure, a doctor will prescribe a colonoscopy preparation or prep. Patient usually start taking the prep one day prior to the colonoscopy with an aim of emptying the colon of faecal matter. And he/she needs to carefully follow the doctor's instructions about the exact dose and timing of prep, and consume a liquid diet.

 

A pre-colonoscopy diet plan:

 

• Patients should consume a low-residue diet for 3 days prior to the procedure, and avoid walnuts, whole grains and popcorns three (3) days before the procedure.
• Only take clear liquid the day before the procedure. Patients can have fish congee and minced meat congee, but should avoid eating vegetables, fruits with seeds (i.e. watermelon, dragon fruits, etc.)
• We will suggest a minimum fasting period of 2 hours for clear liquids and 6 hours for a light meal.

 

Medications to avoid for colonoscopy

 

Patient should ask the doctor whether and when he/she should stop taking any prescription medicines that he/she uses regularly, any anticoagulants (blood thinning medication) the patient may use, and any drug allergy. Iron supplements should be stopped 3 days before colonoscopy. Moreover, patients should seek the doctor's agreement about the temporary interruption of anticoagulation prior to colonoscopy.

 

Inadequate bowel preparation may invalidate the colonoscopy

 

The inadequate bowel preparation may result in a worse quality of colonoscopy. As many as 20%-25% of all colonoscopies reportedly have inadequate bowel cleansing which leads to incomplete visualisation and decreased identification of adenomas. Patients who fail standard bowel prep should redo their colonoscopy along with an extended preparation. Therefore, an adequate bowel preparation is essential for complete visualisation of the colonic mucosa and for detection of precancerous lesions.

 

 

How to choose the bowel preparation medications?

 

There are different types of bowel preparation and doctor will prescribe the type of bowel prep that is right for the patient. If the patient is suffering from stomach pain or diabetes, he/she should inform the doctor in advance to get detailed instructions on how to use the medicines (colon prep).

 

*The above information is for reference only, please consult your doctor for detail.