Finally, a company is marketing a new, completely different method of preparing for a colonoscopy exam.
Patient satisfaction seems to be good with the new option.A novel device designed to assist in bowel cleansing before colonoscopy by infusing water at low pressure into the colon is safe and effective, and may prove particularly useful in patients unable to comply with traditional regimens, researchers have found.
Manufactured by Austin, Texas–based Lifestream Purification Systems, the Prep System infuses water into the rectum via gravity, through a cannula. The device includes an onboard reservoir in which the water supply is stored at 98.6 F. During cleansing, a patient is seated in a specially adapted chair to allow for easy evacuation of water and feces.
If they can just figure out how to use something a bit more sophisticated than a garden hose, in order to eliminate or at least reduce the risk of mucosal tears, all will be well.However, patient satisfaction was higher in the Prep System group (89%) than in the PEG group (76%). In addition, adverse events, such as nausea, were more frequent in the PEG group (P=0.03), although mild mucosal tears induced by the cannula were observed in the rectums of five patients in the Prep System group, the researchers reported.
Water Flush Technique Aids Bowel Prep
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