CT Exam Preparation for Virtual Colonoscopy

Preparation Instructions for Virtual Colonoscopy or Barium Enema

Purchase these over the counter products:

1. Miralax bottle, 238 grams
2. Dulcolax 5 mg tablets (purchase 4 tablets)
3. Gatorade (any clear Gatorade), two 32 ounce bottles

Diet

Maintain a liquid diet beginning with breakfast on the day before the examination, and stay on clear liquids until the examination is completed.

Choose from:

• Clear fruit juice (strained,no pulp, such as apple juice)
• Clear non-alcoholic beverages (water, Snapple, etc.)
• Soup – broth only (no noodles, rice, pasta, vegetables, etc.)
• Jell-O (but not red or grape)
• Tea and coffee – without cream, milk, whitener, or sugar

Remember: nothing solid or chewable. No nuts, pulp, beans, or fruit. NO milk, milk products, or orange juice.

Bowel Preparation

On the day before the examination:

3 PM:     Take 2 Dulcolax tablets

5 PM:     Mix half the bottle of Miralax into one of the 32 ounce bottles of Gatorade, and the other half

of the Miralax into the other bottle of Gatorade. You should have 2 bottles of Gatorade, each containing half of the Miralax powder. Shake both bottles until the powder is fully dissolved. Drink an 8 ounce glass every 30 minutes until you are finished with BOTH bottles.

7 PM:     Take the last 2 Dulcolax tablets.

NOTE: THIS IS A LAXATIVE PREPARATION THAT WILL CAUSE DIARRHEA. DO NOT BEGIN THIS PREPARATION AT WORK.