Fleet Recall

Following the Fleet recall of the Fleet Phospho Soda laxative products many consumers have looked for more information on these bowel cleansing products used in preparation for a colonoscopy and information on the procedure.

What is a Virtual Colonoscopy?

If you are scheduled for a colonoscopy, you may want to ask your doctor whether you should have a traditional or a virtual one.

A colonoscopy is an exam that looks at the inside of the colon, which is a section of the large intestine. The test is used to detect abnormalities such as polyps, or cancer. It can also be used to diagnose causes of bleeding, diarrhea or chronic stomach pain.

For both the traditional and virtual exam, much of the preparation is similar. In order to be effective the colon must be clear of any bowel. A day or two before the exam, you will perform a bowel cleansing by using an enema or laxative. If you used an oral phosphate solution (OSP) for bowel cleansing in the past, you should avoid using it now, particularly Fleet Phospho-Soda because its use has resulted in kidney damage for some patients.

The bowel cleansing solution, in addition to a liquid diet, flushes the bowels so the colon can be seen during the exam.

In a traditional exam, the doctor will insert a long flexible tube called a colonoscope into your colon through your anus.

The colonoscope has a camera that provides an image of the colon on a monitor that the doctor can view in real time. During the exam, the doctor can remove polyps or collect samples for biopsies.

While a traditional colonoscopy can be performed in a doctor’s office or clinic, a virtual colonoscopy is usually performed in a hospital where a CT scanner or MRI unit is located.

In a virtual colonoscopy, a thin, short tube is inserted in the anus to expand the colon with air. You will lie on a table that passes through one of the two imaging machines, which will produce cross-sectional pictures of the colon. For an MRI, a contrasting fluid will be inserted into the rectum to help highlight areas of the colon. The resulting computer generated images will provide three-dimensional views that can be studied for abnormalities.

When deciding between the traditional and virtual colonoscopies, each has advantages and disadvantages.

Traditional colonoscopies require anesthesia, but the colonoscope can remove polyps and collect samples at the time of the exam.

Virtual colonoscopies provide clearer images, but cannot detect pre-cancerous polyps smaller than 10 millimeters. Sedation is not required, and the exam takes less time. Since virtual colonoscopies are a newer technology, they are not as widely available, and may not be reimbursed by all insurance plans. Talk with your doctor about which type of exam will better fit your medical and comfort needs.

Mark Johnson is author of this article on Fleet Phospho Soda. Find more information about Fleet recall here.

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