RESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Oral sodium phosphate has been shown to be effective and safe but causes intravascular volume contraction, changes in serum calcium and phopshate level, and sleep disturbance when given two doses every 12 hours. Because the evening dose is inconvenient for many patients, we gave single morning dose, and compared it with conventional 12-hour-split dose. METHODS: Sixty one patients drank 90 mL of sodium phosphate at 7:00 AM and 58 patients drank 45 mL of sodium phosphate at 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in bowel cleansing between two groups (p=0.871). There was no significant difference in patient's tolerance and symptoms between two groups except sleep deprivation which was more frequent in the split dose group. None of the patients complained of postural dizziness or presyncope in both groups. Serum phosphate levels were increased and serum calcium levels were decreased after preparation in both groups, but patients showed no significant clinical symptoms such as tetany. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that giving a single morning dose of sodium phosphate is effective, well tolerated and safe in most patients for precolonoscopic cleansing, compared to conventional split dose of 12-hour interval.