"Our study shows that a.m.-only dosing protocol provides outstanding colon cleansing, which is critical for finding polyps and preventing cancer. In fact, many more polyps were found in the a.m.-only prep group," senior author Dr. David Kastenberg told Reuters Health by e-mail.

Dr. Kastenberg and colleagues at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, randomized 116 patients scheduled for afternoon colonoscopy either to take a split dosage of polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution on the evening before and the morning of the colonoscopy, or to drink the entire dose in the morning.

In their April 20 online paper in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, the researchers report that whole colon preparation was adequate in 92% of the morning-only group and 94% of the split dosage group. Right colon prep was adequate in 93% and 92%, respectively.

They found significantly more polyps in the morning-only group (1.57 versus 0.94 per patient). The morning-only group also had significantly less abdominal pain, better sleep quality, and less interference with their work on the day before the procedure.

"An important implication of our finding is that you can have your cake and eat it too -- high quality colonoscopy with superior tolerance as a one-day procedure," Dr. Kastenberg said.

By David Douglas

Am J Gastroenterol 2010.

Last Updated: 2010-05-12 9:00:36 -0400 (Reuters Health)

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