ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Use of antispasmodic medication prior to colonoscopy is controversial but someone believes antispasmodic may improve visualization of colonic mucosa and ease colonoscope insertion. So, we designed a study to assess the effect of premedication with the antispasmodic, hyoscine-N-butyl bromide(Buscopan(R)) on the performance of colonoscopy. METHODS: This study was prospective, double blinded, randomized, controlled study, One hundred three consecutive patients were randomized to receive intravenous buscopan lml(n=52) or placebo(n=51) combined with our standard initial medication(me-peridine 50 mg and midazolam 2 mg). Insertion of colonoscopy was timed, and 100 mm visual analogue scales (VAS) were used for asscssing difficulty of procedure, colonic motility, frequency of positional change, frequency of external compression, difficulty of assistance and degree of discomfort experienced by the patients. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of intubation time between buscopan group(mean time, 7.23 min., range 2~15) and placebo group(7.07 min., range 3~25), (p=0.83) and withdrawal time between buscopan group (6.46 min., range 2-22) and placebo group(6.76 min., range 2 25), (p=0.69). Also, there was no significant differences in intubation time between males and females(buscopan; males 7.00 min., females 7.60 min., p=0.34, placebo; males 7.0~5 min., females 7.08 min., p 0.44). The VAS scores checked by endoscopist(p=0.29), assistant(p=0.32) and patient (p=0.15) were not significantly different in both groups. There were no significant differences in intubation time, VAS scores nf endoscopist, assistant, and patients. CONCLUSION: Premedication with intravenous bu.opan has no advantage on colonoscopy procedure. Use of antispasmodic medication prior to colonoscopy was not considered as recommendable agent.