DAI‐KENCHU‐TO,A HERBAL MEDICINE,IMPROVES PRECOLONOSCOPY BOWEL PREPARATION WITH POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL ELECTROLYTE LAVAGE: RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Background: This prospective randomized controlled trial examines the effect of combination of Dai‐kenchu‐to (DKT), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, and polyethylene glycol electrolyte (PEG) lavage in precolonoscopic preparation. Methods: Two hundred and eight‐five colonoscopy patients from January to December 2001 were divided into two groups randomly; 144 patients into group A (with DKT) and 141 into group B (without DKT). Results: Abdominal pain and nausea were observed in 17% and 24% of group A, and 15% and 21% of group B, respectively. Preparation scores were 0.28 ± 0.52 in group A and 0.81 ± 0.77 in group B. Times for reaching the cecum were 6.4 ± 3.6 min in group A and 7.3 ± 4.0 min in group B. Group A demonstrated significantly better preparation (P < 0.001) and shorter times (P = 0.04) than group B. Conclusion: The present study indicates that DKT in combination with PEG is a safe and gentle method, improving precolonoscopic bowel preparation without increasing abdominal pain and nausea.