New guidelines set bowel preparation target at 90%

Colorectal cancer is a major health issue in the United States. It is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the importance of early screening to prevent this disease. Colonoscopy is the best screening method but only works well if the bowel is properly prepared. Experts are discussing new guidelines for bowel preparation during a colonoscopy. This comes from the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, which includes three major medical organizations. They aim to help doctors prepare patients better, particularly those at low risk for problems during the procedure. In a recent discussion, Dr. Brian Jacobson and Dr. Joseph Anderson focused on updated targets for bowel preparation. They explained that the goal is now to have 90% of patients adequately prepared, up from 85% in previous guidelines from 2014. They highlighted the importance of using clear scoring systems to evaluate how well patients are cleaned out before the exam. The experts also mentioned the benefit of a technique called split dosing, which has improved bowel preparation quality. Dr. Jacobson noted that his practice has reached nearly 95% in meeting the new target. This improved preparation is vital for ensuring thorough examinations and reducing the need for repeat colonoscopies.