By Susan Frailey, RN, BSN
At Barton Memorial Hospital (BMH), in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., patients undergoing colonoscopy now have a new prep option. The HydroPrep is a combination of low-volume oral prep, clear liquids the day before colonoscopy, plus colon hydrotherapy the morning of the procedure.
This combination was used by the ACG Scientific Study preformed at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut in 2006. Go-Lytely, Phospho Soda, and the HydroPrep were compared regarding visual clarity in all quadrants of the colon, along with patient satisfaction.
Dotolo Research Toxygen BSC-UV colon hydrotherapy device was used, and electrolyte studies were performed.
So how does the HydroPrep work? Patients are instructed to have a light, low-fat breakfast followed by clear liquids the day before colonoscopy. The oral prep consists of four Dulcolax at 10 a.m., followed by three packets of Miralax in 12 ounces of water at noon. One gallon of water throughout the day is also advised. Patients are typically finished eliminating by 5 p.m. and are ready for a good night’s sleep.
Patients can delay the oral prep until 3 p.m. if they are working during the day before their colonoscopy. The patient is NPO after midnight.
The morning of the colonoscopy, patients come in for colon hydrotherapy. Colon hydrotherapy is a safe, gentle, and effective method of removing waste from the large intestine using purified water via FDA-approved colon hydrotherapy equipment. The system is closed and uses a pre-packaged, single-use, disposable speculum, water, and waste lines.
