To Our Patients:

As March 2007 is Colon Cancer Awareness Month , we are taking this opportunity to alert you regarding this event and to inform you regarding some innovative services we have developed for use in our practice. As you are aware, preparation for colonoscopy is generally an unpleasant experience and often is a factor for patients declining colonoscopy. There are patients who are unable to prep, refuse to prep, or arrive for colonoscopy inadequately prepped.

We have 3 techniques with which we can customize colonoscopy preparation for patients who would otherwise have difficulties. These are as follows:

•  Colonoscopic Colon Enema (CCE)

•  In-office prep

•  Pulsed Irrigation Evacuation (PIE)

1. We are excited to report to you that we developed a new concept in colonoscopy preparation, Colonoscopic Colon Enema (CCE). This technique requires no patient participation or cooperation and provides us with a back-up system for the occasional patient who was unable to prep or who is poorly prepped at the time of colonoscopy. We have submitted a paper regarding this technique for publication.

2. Patients can prepare in our office where our trained staff can provide assistance. This has been particularly valuable for patients who have problems with vision, problems getting around, neurologically compromised patients, patients with continence problems, etc.

3. PIE (Pulsed Irrigation Evacuation) is a computerized enema system. Our trained technicians can prepare a patient in approximately 45 minutes. Minimal advanced preparation and no liquid laxatives are required. Most patients do not experience significant pain or discomfort; however, about 10% do.

We are alerting you regarding Colon Cancer Awareness Month. We encourage those of you who are due for a colonoscopy to schedule it now. We particularly welcome those patients in whom colonoscopy preparation has been inadequate or where difficulties are anticipated. Please review the Notes on Colonoscopy Preparation section, which summarizes our approach to the difficult to prep colonoscopy patient. We welcome your communications with us regarding this important subject.

Very truly yours,

  Norman Sohn, MD, FACS                                    Michael A. Weinstein, MD, FACS