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The Effect of a Formula Diet on Preparation of the Colon for Barium Enema ExaminationImpact on Health Care and Costs
Isidore Gutwein, MD;
Jeanne Baer, MD;
Peter R. Holt, MD
Arch Intern Med. 1981;141(8):993-996.
Abstract
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• A preliminary study of unselected ambulatory patients having barium enema examinations showed that 31.5% were optimally prepared for evaluation of polypoid mucosal lesions, but 29% had fecal material in the colon that could have obscured the lesions during examination. Although 38 of 42 patients took prescribed cathartics, 84% did not maintain a low-residue diet, as prescribed at this institution. Subsequently, 98 age-matched patients received detailed low-residue diet instructions or a formula diet before barium enema examination. Formula preparation resulted in 51% optimal and only 9.5% unacceptable studies compared with 25% optimal and 34% unacceptable examinations in the control group. Caloric intake averaged 700 kcal/day during low-residue diet preparation and was increased almost twofold with formula preparation; improvement was particularly noticeable in the elderly (556 vs 1,286 kcal/day). Prepackaged low-residue defined diets seem acceptable to patients when substituted for a low-residue diet. Bowel cleanliness is greatly enhanced before the barium enema examination, thus improving health care and reducing radiation exposure and costs.
(Arch Intern Med 1981;141:993-996)
Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Medicine and Radiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and the Medical and Radiology Services, St Luke's Hospital Center, New York.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication Nov 10, 1980.
Reprint requests to St Luke's Hospital Center, 114th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025 (Dr Holt).
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