Colostomy irrigation with prostaglandin E2 and bisacodyl. A double-blind cross-over study.

The emptying of the colon and the side-effects after intraluminal application of prostaglandin E2 and of bisacodyl in 14 patients was studied by employing colostomy irrigation. The design was double-blind with cross-over, the irrigation was one litre of tap water to which was added in randomized sequence placebo, prostaglandin *2 (350, 700 and 1400 micrograms) or bisacodyl (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg). Neither prostaglandin E2 nor bisacodyl had any significant effect.