Whole gut lavage for colonoscopy--a comparison between two solutions.

The clinical efficacy and patient acceptability of a new solution containing mainly sodium sulfate and polyethylene glycol (solution II) compared with a balanced standard electrolyte solution (solution I) for whole gut lavage prior to colonoscopy were evaluated in 240 ambulatory and hospital patients randomly allocated to receive either of the two solutions. On the basis of the quality and rapidity of the bowel preparation and the good results obtained by clinical and biological parameters, we found that the newly designed solution was superior.

Endoscopic treatment of esophagogastric varices.

We report our current management of variceal bleeding with endoscopic sclerotherapy. We emphasize the importance of resuscitation and of recording at time zero and within the first 72 hours clinical and laboratory indicators, as these influence the management of these patients. Primary sclerotherapy using Histoacryl for active bleeding and Ethoxysclerol for recent bleeding should be performed as soon as the patient is stable hemodynamically. As we have identified factors related to the severity of hemorrhage and of liver failure degree which can predict early failure of sclerotherapy, patients presenting with these findings should be, in the future, referred quickly toward alternative therapies among which non-surgical intrahepatic shunt appears a promising modality.