Role of itopride in the improvement of bowel preparation before colon endoscopy examination inconstipated patients

Objective To investigate the role of prokinetic agent itopride in colonic preparation before colonoscopy examination in patients with constipation. Methods A total of 115 outpatients with history of chronic constipation who requested colonoscopy were collected. According to colonic preparation proposal, patients were divided into three groups. Group A （39 cases） took standard dosage of PEG-E solution six hours before colonoscopy examination. Group B （38 cases） took 150 mg itopride 30 minutes before administration of lavage solution. Group C （38 cases） took itopride 150 mg at 7 am, 12 am and 8 pm the day before the examination and on the examination day took the same medicine as that of group]3. The blood pressure, heart rate and blood electrolytes were monitored before and after taking medicine in the patients of three groups. Quality of colon cleansing of each group was observed and side effects were also observed. One-way analysis of variance （least significant difference, LSD） test was performed for pairwise comparisons among the three groups. Chi-square test was applied for count data. Results Both group A and group B excluded one patient because of malignant carcinoma with colon stricture under colonoscopy, and 113 patients completed the wholecolon examination. There was no significant difference in the baseline patients data of three groups. The colon cleaning score of group C （7.28il. 11） was higher than those of group A and B （6.55± 1.18 and 6.51±1.16, LSD test, both P〈0.05）. The frequency of bowel movements defecation of group C （8.31±1.32） was more than those of group A and group B （7. 11±1.41 and 6.94±1.51, LSD, test, both P（0.05）. There was no significant difference in terms of intestinal bubble scores, blood pressure, heart rate, blood electrolytes the uncomfortable degree of colonic preparation and rate of side effects of the three groups. Conclusion The colonic preparation can be safely and effectively improved by taking high dose of itopride one day before and on the day of colonoscopy examination. Key words: Colonoscopy;  Preoperative care;  Polyethylene glycols;  Electrolytes;  Benzamides; Constipation