What are the risks of bowel preparation?
The current standard of care dictates that patients receive antibiotic prophylaxis if they are at increased risk of developing an infection. High-risk patients include those with cardiac diseases or patients with prostheses. Bowel preparation can be stressful for some patients, particularly those with pre-existing nutritional problems associated with cancer treatment or malabsorption. In addition, many patients find the various oral solutions unpleasant to the taste and difficult to swallow for that reason. According to one British study, oral solutions flavored with lemon are more acceptable to patients than unflavored forms. Both Colyte and Phospho-Soda are available with flavoring added; patients may wish to ask their pharmacist for these specific products. Mild nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, intestinal gas, dry mouth, and increased thirst are common side effects of these products. Some patients are helped by taking an electrolyte supplement along with oral sodium phosphate solut
