Ackland GL, Harrington J, Downie P et al.
University College London Hospital, London, UK.
Anesth Analg 2008;106:924–9.
Editor’s note: The present authors postulated that dehydration in older individuals induced by preoperative bowel preparation may result in cognitive impairment. In order to test this hypothesis, a prospective observational study was performed, involving a study group of 38 older patients (mean age 63 years) who underwent elective colonoscopy and a control group of 14 age-, gender-, and education-matched patients who received elective sigmoidoscopy. Only the colonoscopy group received bowel preparation prior to the procedure.