QUANTITATIVE APPRAISAL OF PICOLAX (SODIUM PICOSULFATE MAGNESIUM CITRATE) IN THE PREPARATION OF THE LARGE-BOWEL FOR ELECTIVE SURGERY

The authors have investigated the metabolic sequelae Picolax bowel preparation in a group receiving their preparation either 24 hours (n=17) or 48 hours (n=18) before elective colonic resection. No significant changes in any metabolic parameter were found in the 24-hour group. In the 48-hour group, there was a significant decrease in serum sodium (P<0.005), serum chloride (P<0.005), pH (P<0.005), HCO3 (P<0.005), and base excess (P<0.005). Only 16 of 35 cases (46 percent) had an acceptable bowel preparation: 11 of 17 (65 percent) in the 24-hour group and 5 of 18 (28 percent) in the 48-hour group. Marker studies did not correlate with the quality of bowel preparation. The risk of potentially explosive intraluminal gas was increased if the bowel preparation was poor: 12 of 19 patients (63 percent) with a poor bowel preparation compared with 3 of 16 patients (19 percent) of those with an acceptable preparation (P<0.005). Picolax is a poor mechanical bowel preparation and is associated with unacceptable physiologic disturbance if given two days before surgery. © 1990 J. B. Lippincott Co.