Endoscopy 2004; 36(8): 720-722
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-825660
Original Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Intravenous Hyoscine as a Premedication for Colonoscopy: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

K.  Y.  Yoong1 , D.  Perkin1 , J.  Portal1 , I.  Strickland1 , T.  Heymann1
  • 1 Kingston Hospital NHS Trust, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, UK
Further Information

Publication History

Submitted 26 November 2003

Accepted after Revision 7 April 2004

Publication Date:
28 July 2004 (online)

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Background and Study Aims: There is wide variation in the use of antispasmodics to facilitate colonoscopy, both within and between countries, and its use before such procedures remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was any objective benefit in using hyoscine as a premedication for colonoscopy in a district general hospital.
Patients and Methods: Consecutive day-case patients undergoing colonoscopy were included in the study. They were prospectively randomly allocated to receive either intravenous hyoscine (n = 61) or intravenous placebo (n = 56) as part of their premedication.
Results: Our analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to the median time from colonoscope insertion to caecal intubation (9.7 minutes in the hyoscine group vs. 8.3 minutes in the placebo group) or the median total procedure time (14.8 minutes in the hyoscine group vs. 13.8 minutes in the placebo group). There was also no statistically significant difference in success rates for caecal intubation between the two groups (P < 0.06). However a type II error cannot be excluded because of the small sample size.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated no obvious benefit in the routine use of hyoscine as a premedication for colonoscopy in a district general hospital setting.

References

K. Y. Yoong

Department of Gastroenterology

Kingston Hospital NHS Trust · Galsworthy Road · Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7QB · UK

Email: kevin.yoong@kingstonhospital.nhs.uk