BACKGROUND/AIMS: Simethicone has been effectively used as a preprocedure drink during colonoscopy because it causes bubbles in the lumen to coalesce. We tried to confirm whether simethicone could effectively lessen the bubble formation and shorten the procedure time. In addition, we tried to determine the proper dose of this medication. METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive 0 mg as a control group (group I), 200 mg of simethicone at 7 PM in the evening before the procedure (group II), or 200 mg at 7 PM in the evening and 200 mg at 7 AM in the next morning (group III). The bubbles were scored as follows: 0, none or small amounts of bubbles that don't require any jet of water; 1, moderate amounts of bubbles that require two or three jets of water due to the focal distribution; And 2, large amounts of bubbles that require repeated jets (> or = 4) of water due to the extensive distribution. RESULTS: 101 patients were included in this study. The number of patients in groups I, II and III were 38, 35 and 28, respectively. The procedure time was statistically similar among the three groups. Severe bubbles (score 2) were significantly more likely to occur in group I than in groups II and III (p=0.014). On the other hand, the presence of significant bubbles (> or = 1) was not different between groups II and III. CONCLUSIONS: Simethicone significantly diminished the presence of bubbles. We recommend using 200 mg of simethicone in the evening before the colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy ; Hand ; Humans ; Simethicone* ; Water

For improved examination of video capsule endoscopy (VCE) and device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE), bowel preparation is an essential issue. Multiple factors like air bubbles, food material in the small bowel, and gastric and small bowel transit time affect the small bowel visualization quality (SBVQ), diagnostic yield (DY) and cecal completion rate (CR). Bowel preparation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution enhances SBVQ and DY, but it has no effect on CR. Bowel preparation with PEG solution 2 L is similar to PEG 4 L in SBVQ, DY, and CR. Bowel preparation with fasting or PEG solution combined with anti-foaming agents like simethicone enhance SBVQ, but it has no effect on CR. Bowel preparation with prokinetics is not commonly recommended. Optimal timing for purgative bowel preparation has yet to be established. However, the studies regarding bowel preparation for DAE are not sufficient. European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommends 8–12 hours fasting from solid food and 4–6 hours fasting from liquids prior to the antegrade DAE. For retrograde DAE, colonoscopy preparation regimen is recommended. This article reviews the literature and ESGE, 2013 Korean published guidelines regarding bowel preparation for VCE and DAE, following suggestion for optimal bowel preparation for VCE and balloon enteroscopy.
Capsule Endoscopy ; Cathartics ; Colonoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Fasting ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Simethicone

The preparation for video capsule endoscopy (VCE) of the bowel suggested by manufacturers of capsule endoscopy systems consists only of a clear liquid diet and an 8-hour fast. While there is evidence for a benefit from bowel preparation for VCE, so far there is no domestic consensus on the preparation regimen in Korea. Therefore, we performed this study to recommend guidelines for bowel preparation before VCE. The guidelines on VCE were developed by the Korean Gut Image Study Group, part of the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Four key questions were selected. According to our guidelines, bowel preparation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution enhances small bowel visualization quality (SBVQ) and diagnostic yield (DY), but it has no effect on cecal completion rate (CR). Bowel preparation with 2 L of PEG solution is similar to that with 4 L of PEG in terms of the SBVQ, DY, and CR of VCE. Bowel preparation with fasting or PEG solution combined with simethicone enhances the SBVQ, but it does not affect the CR of VCE. Bowel preparation with prokinetics does not enhance the SBVQ, DY, or CR of VCE.
Capsule Endoscopy ; Consensus ; Diet ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Fasting ; Korea ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Simethicone

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Capsule endoscopy is an effective diagnostic tool for detecting small bowel disease. However, the method of bowel preparation for capsule endoscopy has not been standardized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of oral sodium phosphate as a preparation for capsule endoscopy. METHODS: A total of 129 cases who underwent capsule endoscopy from Mar. 2003 to Sep. 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Eighty- eight cases were prepared with sennosides (Alaxyl(R)) and 41 cases were prepared with sodium phosphate. The intestinal mucosa was defined as being unclean if the intestinal content, food materials, and bubbles covered more than 25% of the mucosal surface. Using a stopwatch, the exact time of the unclean image was recorded. The percentage of the unclean image for the small intestinal transit time (SITT) was calculated as an objective score. Small bowel cleansing was considered 'adequate' if the objective score was <10% and 'inadequate' if the objective score was 10% or greater. RESULTS: 35 cases (40%) showed an adequate image in the sennosides and simethicone group and 26 cases (63%) showed an adequate image in the sodium phosphate and simethicone group. The adequacy rate was significantly higher in the sodium phosphate group than in the sennosides group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Capsule endoscopy prepared by sodium phosphate and simethicone produced a better visual image than sennosides and simethicone.
Capsule Endoscopy* ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Retrospective Studies ; Senna Extract ; Simethicone ; Sodium*

This study was conducted to determine whether the regional factors were related to the increase in the percentage of low birthweight(LBW: <2, 500g) infants in Kumamoto Pref., and to establish a tentative structure model for predicting low birthweight infants. Analyses for frequency of LBW infants between 1974 and 1997, and a multiple regression model and covariance structure model were conducted using data from the vital statistics between 1992 and 1997 and regional indicators concerned with LBW infants from official registered statistical data between 1992 and 1997. The 72 regional factors were clustered into four groups linked with agricultural areas such as Urban, Flat, Hilly and Mountainous areas. The recent increase in the incidence of LBW infants resulted from the increase in moderate−LBW(MLBW: 2, 000−2, 500g) infants of full term−LBW infants. There was a steady annual increase in the Urban agricultural area LBW infants since 1992. The two structure analyses revealed that the Urban area had a marked effect on the increase in LBW infants, whereas, farm villages in Hilly or Moutainous areas had less effect on the increase in LBW infants. These findings suggest that the regional factors relating to the mothers’ life−style or regional environments play a key role in the etiology and prevention of LBW, and will be a useful in the analyses using official registered material.
Birth Weight ; Urban brand of Al hydroxide/Mg hydroxide/simethicone ; structure ; Models ; Analysis

Antispasmodics are effective in reducing abdominal pain and controlling spasm. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients have characteristic key factors such as intestinal motility disorder and visceral hypersensitivity. So antispasmodics have been used in the treatment of IBS for decades. Mebeverine blocks intestinal peristalsis but are not significantly better than placebo. Alverine citrate combined with simethicone is effective treatment option in IBS. Otilonium and pinaverium bromide are poorly absorbed agents, so they have mostly local effect with minimal systemic adverse events. Phloroglucinol controls acute exacerbation of abdominal pain effectively. Tiropramide reduce abdominal discomfort without serious adverse events. Fenoverine control spasm in spastic colon but does not affect normal contraction. Trimebutine have dual actions that it inhibits hyperactive colon and activates hypomotile colon. Each drug has advantages and disadvantages. Antispasmodics are considered as the first treatment option of pain-dominant IBS.
Abdominal Pain ; Citric Acid ; Colon ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Muscle Spasticity ; Parasympatholytics ; Peristalsis ; Phloroglucinol ; Simethicone ; Spasm ; Trimebutine

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are no studies that looked into the bubble eliminating efficacy of polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid (PEGA), which has been one of the shortcomings of polyethylene glycol (PEG). In this study, we compared newly introduced PEGA regimen by adding either simethicone or 1 L of water. METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled study was carried out at Dongguk Universtiy Gyeongju Hospital from July 2014 to September 2014. A total of 90 patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups; PEGA group (n=30) which served as control, simethicone addition group (n=30) to which simethicone 400 mg was additionally prescribed, and water addition group (n=30) to whom additional 1 L of water was given. Cleansing effectiveness, gas elimination efficacy, side effects, and patient satisfaction were compared between the groups. RESULTS: PEGA group demonstrated the highest cleansing effectiveness, but there was no statistically significant difference among the groups. Simethicone addition group showed significantly lesser amount of bubbles than the other groups (2.57±2.05 vs. 1.10±1.83 vs. 2.60±2.84, p=0.017). The rates of side effects in each group were 20.00% vs. 16.77% vs. 53.33%. Water addition group had significantly more side effects than the PEGA group and the simethicone addition group (p=0.003). The patient satisfaction score of each group was 3.37±0.85 vs. 3.73±0.74 vs. 3.20±0.66 with simethicone addition group showing significantly higher satisfaction than water addition group (p=0.020). CONCLUSIONS: PEGA bowel preparation agent showed satisfactory bowel cleansing despite the decrease in dosage, and addition of simethicone resulted in better bubble elimination.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid/*chemistry ; Cathartics/adverse effects/chemistry/*pharmacology ; Colon/*drug effects ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance ; Polyethylene Glycols/adverse effects/*chemistry/pharmacology ; Prospective Studies ; Simethicone/*chemistry ; Water/*chemistry

BACKGROUNDCapsule endoscopy is a novel non-invasive method for visualization of the entire small bowel. The diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy depends on the quality of visualization of the small bowel mucosa and its complete passage through the small bowel. To date, there is no standardized protocol for bowel preparation before capsule endoscopy. The addition of simethicone in the bowel preparation for the purpose of reducing air bubbles in the intestinal lumen had only been studied by a few investigators.

METHODSSixty-four participants were randomly divided into two groups to receive a bowel preparation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution (Group 1) and both PEG solution and simethicone (Group 2). The PEG solution and simethicone were taken the night before and 20 min prior to capsule endoscopy, respectively. Frames taken in the small intestine were examined and scored for luminal bubbles by two professional capsule endoscopists. Gastric emptying time and small bowel transit time were also recorded.

RESULTSSimethicone significantly reduced luminal bubbles both in the proximal and distal small intestines. The mean time proportions with slight bubbles in the proximal and distal intestines in Group 2 were 97.1% and 99.0%, respectively, compared with 67.2% (P<0.001) and 68.8% (P<0.001) in Group 1. Simethicone had no effect on mean gastric emptying time, 32.08 min in Group 2 compared with 30.88 min in Group 1 (P=0.868), but it did increase mean small intestinal transit time from 227.28 to 281.84 min (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONBowel preparation with both PEG and simethicone significantly reduced bubbles in the intestinal lumen and improved the visualization of the small bowel by capsule endoscopy without any side effects observed.

Adult ; Aged ; Capsule Endoscopes ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Intestine, Small ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Premedication ; methods ; Simethicone ; administration & dosage ; Surface-Active Agents ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult