FECAL MARKING WITH THE USE OF BARIUM CONTRAST MEDIUM AS AN OPTIMIZATION METHOD OF PATIENTS’ PREPARATION FOR THE VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to optimize the patients’ preparation for the virtual colonoscopy procedure (VC) by selecting an adequate dose of the barium comprising contrast medium for the fecal marking (FM). The main aim was to reach an optimum marking of the residual contents with the decrease in both quantity and intensity of high-density side artifacts that influence the quality of the bowel wall and contiguous structures visualization. The process of selecting the appropriate barium concentration was conducted by practical consideration with the aid of the principle phantom colon model. The appropriate dose of barium contrast for FM during patients’ preparation for VC is thereon suggested by the authors of the article. 100 patients took part in the study; they were divided into 2 equal groups of 50 persons. VC with preliminary barium FM and cleansing preparation was applied to all patients from both groups. The difference between the groups consisted in the dose of contrast medium for FM: the amount of the medium suggested by the authors that was less than its standard level was used in one of the groups. The findings of the study were verified with the help of statistical analysis, on the grounds of which it is concluded about the reliable decrease in both quantity and intensity of the undesirable high-density artifacts without any defects in marking in the group of patients with the dose of barium contrast medium that was suggested by the authors.