Left-sided colonoscopy in screening programs: What preparation?

In order to limit patients' refusal to undergoing colorectal cancer endoscopic screening procedures, traditional cleansing enemas were compared with a new simpler oral cleansing preparation by means of a randomized controlled trial. Ninety-three patients were evaluated both for compliance effectiveness of the two modalities tested. No difference in acceptability or effectiveness was detected. The authors discuss more rigorous cleansing techniques routinely used in diagnostic schedules which cannot be considered for preparation for colonoscopy in screening programs.