EGD + Colonoscopy Prep — Under 15 kg

Under 33 lb · clear liquids + saline enema

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Procedure Location

St. Vincent Hospital — Pediatric Preop, Door #1

2001 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260 (Surgery Parking Lot)

Pediatric Preop phone: (317) 338-5851

Arrive 90 minutes before your scheduled procedure

🔎 What Are These Procedures?

Your child is scheduled for two procedures done back-to-back while asleep under anesthesia:

EGD (upper endoscopy) — a thin camera is passed through the mouth to look at the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine. Small biopsies are usually taken.
Colonoscopy — the same kind of camera is passed through the bottom to look at the large intestine. Biopsies are usually taken here too.

Both procedures together take about 30–60 minutes. Your child will not feel anything. The colonoscopy needs the bowel-prep instructions below; the EGD only needs the fasting times. Follow both.

📖 About the Bowel Prep

The colon must be clean for the doctor to see clearly during the colonoscopy. The clear-liquid + enema steps below empty it over the day before. The EGD itself does not need bowel prep — only the fasting times.

⚠️ Use this option only if directed by the doctor

This page describes a clear-liquids + saline-enema prep for infants and children under 15 kg. Use this protocol only when our office has specifically directed you to do so.

If a saline enema was not prescribed for home use, do not give one — the doctor will administer it just before the procedure.

✅ Plan Ahead — pick up from the pharmacy

Pedialyte® or clear apple juice.
Clear broth (chicken or vegetable).
Popsicles or plain gelatin (no red or purple colors).
Saline enema — only if prescribed, or if we have separately instructed you to give one.
Protective ointment (A&D, Desitin®, or Vaseline®) for the diaper area.

Medications: please prepare a list of the medicines your child is taking and ask which ones may need to be stopped. Stop iron supplements and anti-diarrhea medicines 7 days before.

📅 Day Before the Procedure

AVOID	OK to drink
All solid foods	Formula or milk (until 12:00 PM)
Formula or milk after 12:00 PM	Breast milk (until 8:00 PM)
Breast milk after 8:00 PM	Pedialyte®; clear apple juice (no pulp); water
Anything red or purple (looks like blood)	Clear broth (chicken or vegetable, strained); popsicles or plain gelatin (no red/purple)

Saline enema (only if directed)

If your doctor prescribed a saline enema for home use, give it in the evening. The dose is 10 mL per kg of body weight. If you were not told to give one at home, the doctor will give it right before the procedure.

Apply protective ointment to the diaper area.

⏱ Fasting Rules — Day of Procedure

These times are counted backward from your child's scheduled procedure time. The fasting rules apply to both the EGD and the colonoscopy.

What	When to Stop
Formula or milk (1 year and older)	12:00 PM the day before
Breast milk	8:00 PM the day before
Clear liquids (Pedialyte, water, clear juice)	3 hours before procedure time

⚠️ After the clear-liquid cutoff, no food or drink. This keeps your child safe during anesthesia.

⚠️ When to Call the Doctor

Your child won't drink, or has dehydration signs: no tears, dry mouth, or no wet diapers for 6+ hours.
Vomiting that prevents your child from keeping liquids down.
Fever, bloody stools, or severe belly pain.
You are unsure whether the prep is working.
You have questions about your child's medications.

Call (317) 338-9450 with any of the concerns above.

💡 Tips for Success

Offer clear liquids frequently in small amounts — a syringe, sippy cup, or bottle may help.
Popsicles and gelatin help keep your child hydrated. Avoid red and purple — they can look like blood.
Expect frequent watery stools — this means the prep is working.
Keep the diaper area well protected with ointment to prevent irritation.

Helpful Resources

▶ Watch a video about the procedure Example only — follow this handout, not the video. 📨 Patient portal Message us — preferred contact method 🌐 GIKids.org General info on pediatric GI procedures