Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Prep — Over 40 kg
Over 88 lb
← Other weight bands
📄 Download printable PDF
Procedure Location
St. Vincent Hospital — Pediatric Preop, Door #1
Arrive 90 minutes before your scheduled procedure
💊 About Medications
- Tell your doctor about all medicines your child takes.
- Stop ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve and other anti-inflammatory medicines 2 days before.
- Stop iron or anti-diarrhea medicines (Imodium, Kaopectate) 7 days before.
- Give routine morning medicines with a small sip of water unless told otherwise.
What to buy at least 2 days before
1 large adult saline enema (~480 mL), such as Fleet Saline Enema Extra (large size), OR 2 regular adult saline enemas (~240 mL each). Do NOT buy Fleet phospho-soda or any phosphate enema.
⚠️ Use only SALINE enemas.
⚠️ NOT phosphate (phospho-soda) enemas — dangerous for children and teens.
⚠️ NOT Fleet Mineral Oil Enema — different product.
⚠️ NOT Fleet Glycerin Suppositories or any glycerin suppository — different product.
📅 1 Day Before the Procedure
Eat a low-residue (“white”) diet through lunch. After 2:00 PM — clear liquids only (no dairy).
| AVOID (low-residue rule) |
OK to eat |
| Whole-grain bread, brown rice, oatmeal, granola |
White bread, plain bagel, white rice, plain pasta |
| Raw fruits with skin or seeds (berries, grapes, oranges, pineapple) |
Banana, applesauce, plain or vanilla yogurt |
| Raw vegetables, salads, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, peas |
Eggs, plain chicken, baked potato (no skin) |
| Beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, popcorn |
Goldfish, animal or saltine crackers, pretzels |
| Granola bars, trail mix, cookies with nuts or dried fruit |
Vanilla pudding, plain Jell-O (no red/purple) |
After 2:00 PM — clear liquids only (no dairy)
| AVOID |
OK to drink |
| Anything red or purple |
Water, Pedialyte, Gatorade or Powerade (no red/purple) |
| Dairy (milk, yogurt, ice cream, smoothies) |
Apple, white-grape, or white-cranberry juice (no pulp) |
| Orange or grapefruit juice; juice with pulp |
Strained lemonade, ginger ale, Sprite, 7-Up |
| Cream-based soups, hot chocolate |
Clear chicken, beef, or vegetable broth; tea (no milk) |
| |
Plain Jell-O, popsicles (no red/purple, no fruit chunks); hard candy, honey |
💊 Day of the Procedure — Enema
1–2 hours before leaving
Give 1 large adult saline enema (~480 mL) — or 2 regular 240 mL enemas back-to-back — about 1 to 2 hours before leaving for the hospital. Have your child try to hold the enema for 5 to 10 minutes before going to the bathroom. If there is no stool output after 30 minutes, you may give one additional enema.
- Have your child try to hold the enema for 5 to 10 minutes before going to the bathroom, if able.
- If there is no stool output after 30 minutes, you may give one additional enema.
- Some watery output and a few bowel movements after the enema are expected.
⏱️ Day of the Procedure — Eating & Drinking (NPO)
For your child's safety, anesthesia requires an empty stomach. Stop each food or liquid below by the time listed, counting back from your child's scheduled arrival time:
| Food or liquid |
Stop this many hours before arrival |
| Solid foods | 8 hours |
| Formula or milk feedings | 6 hours |
| Breast milk | 4 hours |
| Clear liquids (water, apple juice, plain Jell-O) | 3 hours |
- Keep your child well-hydrated on the morning of the procedure — offer small sips of clear liquids every 30–60 minutes. Each drink: no more than 1 cup (8 oz / ~250 mL). Frequent small drinks beat occasional large ones — better hydration, easier on the stomach.
- Stop all clear liquids 3 hours before the procedure.
- Bring comfort items for your child (toy, blanket, tablet, etc.).
⚠️ If the prep or fasting times are not followed, the procedure may be delayed or canceled.
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