Patient preparation for intravenous urography: are we practising evidence-based medicine?

Aim

To identify the current practice of patient preparation prior to intravenous urography (IVU) in England and Wales.

Methods

Seventy-two hospitals were contacted to request details regarding the duration of fluid restriction, adherence to a low-residue diet, or use of laxatives for patient preparation before IVU examinations.

Results

Results showed that out of 45 hospitals that still use IVU, only six (13.3%) did not follow a patient-preparation regime. The vast majority of the hospitals contacted (87.6%), implemented either fluid and/or food restriction, or prescribed laxatives. The duration of fluid and food restriction varied from 2–12h duration, and some departments advocated 48h of laxatives.

Conclusion

A large proportion of hospitals are not practising evidence-based medicine in relation to IVU, and we suggest that the practice of patient preparation should be abandoned.