Virtual Colonoscopy / Patient Prep

Proper bowel cleansing is needed
for the best exam!

To get a clean and empty colon (large intestine), you will start to prepare the day before your exam.  Both a clear liquid diet and the contents of the bowel prep kit are needed to clean out your colon.  The bowel prep kit contains laxatives and contrast medicines.  The laxatives will help clean out the bowel for the exam.  The contrast medicines will help to highlight any leftover stool (feces) on the CT scan pictures.

You will need to come to the Radiology Reception Desk at the University of Virginia Hospital to pick up the prep kit. 

Please note that the prep must be started the day prior to your exam, so picking up your prep early is highly recommended.  There is no charge for the prep kit.

THE DAY BEFORE YOUR EXAM:

Starting with breakfast on the day before your exam, you may drink as many clear liquids as you want.  Drink only clear liquids for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.  Do not eat any solid foods.  Drink plenty of fluid to avoid dehydration.  Please avoid red liquids (such as red Jell-O® or cranberry juice).  Clear liquids may include:

  • Water, tea, or coffee (no cream or milk; sugar is okay)
  • Jell-O® or Popsicles® (no fruit or cream added)
  • Bouillon or broth (no pieces of meat or vegetables)
  • Apple juice or white grape juice (no orange juice, tomato, grapefruit, or prune juice)
  • Hard candy
  • Gatorade® or other clear sports drinks
  • Soda pop (such as Sprite, Seven-Up, ginger ale, colas)

Tridrate Dry from the prep kit for virtual colonoscopyOpen the TRIDRATETM Dry Bowel Cleansing System package and discard the "patient instructions" sheet and the rectal suppository (package #3).

Follow the Bowel Prep medicine schedule described below rather than the instructions inside the TRIDRATETM Dry Bowel Cleansing System.  The times below can vary, but you must wait three (3) hours between each step. 

For instance, if you begin Step 1 at 1:30 p.m., you should proceed to Step 2 at 4:30 p.m., Step 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Step 4 at 10:30 p.m.  You may drink as many clear liquids as you like between each step and up until 4 hours before your exam appointment.

Step 1 - between 12 noon and 2 p.m.:
Drink 1 (250 mL) bottle of Smoothie Readi-CAT® 2 dilute barium. (Tastes better if chilled first. Shake well before drinking.)

Step 2 - between 3 and 5 p.m.:
Pour the contents of package #1 TRIDRATETM Dry powder into a glass with 8 oz. of room temperature water. Stir until completely dissolved. Chill the mixture for at least 30 minutes before drinking to make it taste better. Drink ½ glass of the mixture; then wait 15 minutes to drink the other ½ glass.

Step 3 - between 6 and 8 p.m.:
Drink 1 bottle (50 mL) of OmnipaqueTM for Oral Use, an iodinated water-soluble contrast agent.

Step 4 - between 9 and 11 p.m.:
Remove all 3 Tridrate (bisacodyl) laxative tablets from package #2 and swallow them with a clear liquid. (Do not crush or chew the tablets.)

Drink as much clear liquids as you want up until 4 hours before your appointment.  Don't get dehydrated.

Bowel Prep Complete!!!

THE DAY OF YOUR EXAM:

You may continue to drink clear liquids up until 4 hours before the time of your appointment.  Do not eat or drink anything for the last 4 hours before your scheduled appointment.  However, you may take your regular medicines as prescribed with small sips of water.

If you have diabetes, test your blood sugar (glucose) level more often while you are preparing yourself for your exam because you can't eat as well as you normally do.  You should adjust your insulin or oral diabetes pills as discussed with your doctor.  Resume your normal diabetes medicine level after you are eating normally again.  If your blood sugar level becomes low (less than 70 mg/dL) or you have symptoms of low blood sugar, please drink a clear liquid containing sugar or take glucose tablets.  Frequently check your blood sugar level to make sure that it stays above 70.  We can still do the exam unless you need to eat solid food to maintain your blood sugar level.  If you need to eat solid food, we can always reschedule your Virtual Colonoscopy for a future date.

If you haven't been able to have multiple bowel movements after taking the bowel prep or could not finish the bowel prep as outlined above, please call us and we can reschedule the exam.

AFTER THE EXAM:

Unless you are scheduled for more tests following your Virtual Colonoscopy, you will be able to immediately resume your normal diet and activities and take your medications as usual.

QUESTIONS ABOUT BOWEL PREPARATION
OR APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING:

please call Jamie Weathersbee at (434) 243-9296