Virtual CT colonoscopy examines the entire colon. Good bowel cleansing is very important with this procedure. The colon must be completely clean so that the radiologist can clearly view the colon lining and accurately diagnose any problem. Your doctor will prescribe the type of bowel cleansing laxative you should use.
Step 1: Dietary Restrictions
- One week before procedure - Stop eating nuts and hard seeds (such as peanuts, cashews, popcorn, sunflower, poppy and sesame seeds)
- Three days before procedure - Stop eating high fiber foods (such as bran, oatmeal, whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables)
- One day before procedure - Clear liquid diet only. Do not eat any solid foods. Drink plenty of clear liquids including:
- Clear fruit juice (not orange juice, tomato or prune juice)
- Clear broth or bouillon, coffee or tea without cream or milk
- Gatorade, Kool-Aid or similar drinks, gelatin or popsicles
- Carbonated beverages such as cola, ginger ale, lemon-lime, etc.
If you have diabetes, you must discuss adjusting your diabetes medication dose with your doctor prior to beginning a clear liquid diet.
Step 2: Laxative Bowel Cleansing Preparation
Purchase from your local store or pharmacy:
- One bottle of Miralax® or generic-equivalent (polyethylene glycol) - 238 grams (approximately 8.3 oz)
- One-64 ounce or two-32 ounce bottles of Gatorade (any flavor) or any clear liquid
- If diabetic, purchase Gatorade G2 or similar low sugar drink
- Mix and shake until dissolved, not more than 24 hours before use
Step 3: Bowel Contrast Preparation
Cleveland Clinic Home Delivery will send to your home a bowel contrast kit with:
- 4 Dulcolax (biscacodyl) tablets which will stimulate the bowel
- 1 cup of banana flavored barium which will coat stool in the colon
- 1 ounce of Gastroview (diatrizoate) which will coat the colon lining
- A detailed instruction sheet with ingestion times for both cleansing laxative and bowel contrast preparations
Step 4: Do not eat or drink anything after midnight
AM meds should be taken:
- Preferably after the procedure is completed
- Prior to procedure with no more than 1 oz of liquid