Bisacodyl laxative tablets, long known as an adjunct to the liquid cathartic prep agents used to cleanse the colon before virtual colonoscopy scans, are taking a solo turn at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ.
Four bisacodyl tablets will replace several liters of laxative for patients undergoing the colorectal cancer screening procedure in daily practice, Dr. C. Daniel Johnson, chair of the radiology department, said in a statement.
It's hoped that the new procedure will make people less anxious and more likely to get screened for colorectal cancer, Johnson said.
The change is under way following a study last year in Abdominal Imaging in which a similar cleansing technique worked as well as the standard liquid laxative for virtual colonoscopies, according to Johnson. The new protocol is not intended for standard colonoscopy, which requires different cleansing procedures.
