Abstract: To compare the effect of clinical application of magnesium sulfate and senna before double contrast colography, 50 patients of each group for double contrast colography were studied. The results indicated there were 45 cases (90%) without side effects and 40 cases (80%) without stool in magnesium sulfate group, while 32 cases (64%) without side effects and 28 cases (56%) without stool in the senna group. There were significant differences between the magnesium sulfate group and the senna group (all P<0.05). The results suggest magnesium sulfate and senna are both safe and suitable for double contract colography and magnesium sulfate should be the first choice.

Key words: magnesium sulfate, senna, double contrast colography