Published online Jan 6, 2019. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i1.39
Peer-review started: September 21, 2018
First decision: November 2, 2018
Revised: November 19, 2018
Accepted: November 23, 2018
Article in press: November 24, 2018
Published online: January 6, 2019
Processing time: 105 Days and 22.9 Hours
No consensus has been reached in patients suspected of having inadequate bowel preparation regarding optimal salvage methods, which negatively affects the efficacy and quality of colonoscopy. The most ideal and reasonable rescue option involves early suspicion and identification of patients with inadequate preparation before sedation, additional oral ingestion of a suitable preparation formulation, and same-day colonoscopy.
To compare 0.5-L and 1-L polyethylene glycol containing ascorbic acid (PEG + Asc) as additional bowel cleansing methods after a 2-L split-dose PEG + Asc regimen in patients with expected inadequate bowel preparation before colonoscopy.
Individuals with expected inadequate bowel preparation based on last stool form, such as turbid liquid, particulate liquid, or liquid with small amounts of feces, were randomized to either a 0.5-L PEG + Asc group or a 1-L PEG + Asc group. The primary endpoint was bowel preparation as assessed using the Aronchick bowel preparation scale (ABPS) and Boston bowel preparation scale (BBPS) scores. The secondary endpoints were cecal intubation time, withdrawal time, polyp detection rate (PDR), adenoma detection rate (ADR), individual compliance with additional PEG + Asc, and patient satisfaction.
Initially, 98 patients were included, but 8 were later excluded due to withdrawal of consent to participate in the study. Adequate bowel preparation (as assessed by ABPS) was observed in 80.9% (38/47) of subjects in the 0.5-L group and in 88.4% (38/43) of subjects in the 1-L group (P = 0.617). Mean total BBPS was 6.7 points in the 0.5-L group and 7.0 points in the 1-L group (P = 0.458). ADRs and PDRs were similar in the two groups, and cecal intubation and withdrawal times were not significantly different. However, mean patient satisfaction score was significantly higher in the 0.5-L group (P = 0.041).
The bowel cleaning efficacy of additional 0.5-L PEG + Asc was not inferior to that of 1-L PEG + Asc. Additional 0.5-L PEG + Asc is worthwhile when inadequate bowel preparation is expected before colonoscopy.
Core tip: The most reasonable rescue option in patients with inadequate bowel preparation is early suspicion and identification of patients with inadequate preparation before sedation, additional oral ingestion of a suitable preparation, and same-day colonoscopy. This is the first prospective randomized clinical trial to compare the effects of two additional polyethylene glycol (PEG) containing ascorbic acid (PEG + Asc) doses. The study shows that the bowel cleansing efficacy of an additional 0.5-L PEG + Asc was not inferior to that of an additional 1-L PEG + Asc when administered prior to colonoscopy in patients with suspected inadequate bowel preparation. Thus, the additional 0.5-L PEG + Asc regimen appears to be sufficient when inadequate bowel preparation is expected before initiating colonoscopy, based on considerations of bowel cleansing efficacy and patient satisfaction.