Breeza® for neutral/abdominal imaging

How Taste, Texture and Tolerability Affect Enterography Prep

In small bowel imaging, distention is the name of the game

Unfortunately, in order to get the desired bowel distention for imaging, patients must ingest a large volume of fluid: usually 1350 – 1500ML, approximately 44 – 51 fluid ounces, within a 45 minute time-frame.

To complicate matters, many patients in enterography are instructed to drink a 1% barium sulfate suspension which has a viscosity of 80.5cP in order to distend the small bowel.

Viscosity is a measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow. The higher the viscosity, the more resistant to flow a fluid will be. For comparison purposes, water, arguably the most drinkable fluid for humans, has a viscosity of .899cP. A fluid with a viscosity of 80.5cP has a viscosity closer to light-weight cooking oils – corn oil has a viscosity of 72cP, olive oil a viscosity of 84cP.

The higher the viscosity of a fluid, the harder it is for patients to drink the entire amount of fluid needed for their exam

Breeza flavored beverage for neutral abdominal imaging is a non-carbonated, sugar-free, gluten-free beverage with a light, refreshing lemon-lime flavor and a viscosity of 10.5cP which is slightly more viscous than water, providing a better "mouth feel" and palatability for patients.

Researchers representing the divisions of radiology, gastroenterology, and biostatistics at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, NY) performing an evaluation of patient tolerance, efficacy, and willingness to repeat the procedure found that Breeza flavored beverage for neutral/abdominal imaging scored significantly higher in taste, ease of drinking, and willingness to repeat the drinking protocol than the barium sulfate solution.

For the full studies, refer to the related below.

Resources

visit our Educational Center for more

The Challenges of Administering Oral Contrast During Enterography - Taste and Texture Matter

Advances in Patient Satisfaction and Drinking Compliance

Enterography Exams Can Be a Breeze - Customer Testimonials

Breeza Flavored Beverage for Neutral Abdominal - Pelvic Imaging, Features and Benefits

In most cases, it's not necessarily the volume of fluid that affects patient compliance with drinking instructions, it's the texture of the fluid.

A 1% barium sulfate solution has a viscosity of 80.5cP - a viscosity profile that's similar light weight to cooking oils. Even with best efforts to improve the taste, patients have a hard time drinking a quart of fluid at this viscosity.

Not only does this affect throughput as technologists may have to spend time coaching patients to drink, for many patients, the experience of the exam prep makes them unwilling to repeat the drinking protocol for future exams, which many routinely undergo due to their chronic condition.

Breeza [REF 221] Flavored Beverage for Neutral Abdominal / Pelvic Imaging

It's just much easier

"Patients can drink it, they don't have a lot of questions, there's no issues with them drinking it. It's just much easier. It's a much easier flow."

Tracy Painter, Clinical Manager, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

This tastes better than the white chalky barium

"Had a small bowel CT scan at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN this afternoon and now I have the absolute worst gas and gas pain. This tastes better than the white chalky barium and is much easier to drink but I don't ever remember having unbearable gas and gas pain from it. But the taste and how easy it goes down without needing anti-nausea medication is worth it!"

JG1873, Redwood Falls, MN

Instructions and Product Safety Resources

visit our Educational Center for more

Breeza Flavored Beverage for Neutral Abdominal - Pelvic Imaging, User Guidance

Breeza REF 221 SDS