Popular Colonoscopy Prep Solution May Pose Kidney Risks

Nevertheless, "we believe that PEG preps are a safer option for patients" until further testing is done, he said.

Dr. Hemant K. Roy, an associate professor in the department of medicine at Evanston-Northwestern Healthcare in Illinois, described the findings as "quite alarming" in an accompanying editorial.

However, he stressed that warranted concerns about phosphate solutions should not discourage patients from undergoing colon cancer screening.

"Colonoscopies save lives," he stressed. "We know it works. So this should not dissuade people from doing one. I think we just need to be cautious about the type of preparation we use and who we give it to, so that an extraordinarily rare complication is avoided. And we have options, so there is a way to do that."

More information

For additional information on colonoscopies, visit the American Cancer Society.

Page: 1 | 2 | 3   previous | next

Email this page  Printer friendly Bookmark this page