STANDARD VERSUS INTENSIFIED BOWEL PREPARATION FOR MORNING COLONOSCOPY

Aims To check if an intensified bowel preparation (BP) regimen leads to a significant improvement in BP quality.

Methods A single center, retrospective observational study. 176 patients referred for morning endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) received intensified BP (two split doses of Sodium Picosulfate/Magnesium Oxide/Citric Acid (Picosalax) with one dose (1500 cc) of polyethylene glycol between them). This group was compared with 208 ambulatory patients having morning colonoscopy following standard split-dose BP with Picosalax. Bowel preparation quality was assessed with the Boston Bowel Preparation Score (BBPS). Failed BP was defined as a colon segments with a score of 1 or a global score below 6.

Results The mean BBPS was similar in both groups (7.28 in both groups). However, the rate of failed BP was significantly lower in patients who had an intensified BP, both overall (3.4% vs 17.8%, p < 0.001) and per colon segments (Right colon: 2.3% vs 13.5%, p < 0.001, Transverse colon: 1,1% vs 2.9%, p = 0.232, Left colon: 1.1% vs 5.3%, p = 0.025).

Conclusions In this retrospective study, intensified BP reduced failed BP rates compared with standard split-dose BP.