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DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1806786
Real-World Application of Shankhaprakshalana (a Yogic Technique) in Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy in a Busy Outpatient Clinic: An External Validation Study
Funding None declared.
Abstract
Objectives
Achieving optimal bowel preparation is pivotal for successful colonoscopy. However, in the real-world scenario, this is challenging. A recent study by Panigrahi et al sheds light on Shankhaprakshalana (SP) as a promising method in achieving optimal bowel preparation before colonoscopy. Our primary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of SP in the bustling environment of a real-world outpatient clinic.
Materials and Methods
It was a prospective study conducted at Kalinga Gastroenterology Foundation, Cuttack, between May and August 2024. Patients requiring colonoscopy underwent bowel preparation by SP using the previously described methodology. Patients having poor performance status, diagnosed with bowel stricture and with history of abdominal surgery, and those unable to perform SP were excluded. Bowel preparation was assessed using Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS).
Results
SP was performed in 101 patients. The mean age of the patients was 43.57 (±13.54) years. The mean BBPS score was 8.6 (±0.7). Bowel preparation was adequate in all patients (100%). The mean segmental BBPS for the three segments of the colon (right, transverse, and left) were 2.8 (±0.3), 3.0 (±0.6), and 3.0 (±0.6), respectively. Bowel preparation was completed in 143 (±24) minutes, with an average of 6 (±2) motions. The cecal intubation time was 7 (±3) minutes and the median visual analog scale (VAS) score for patient-reported discomfort during colonoscopy was 0 (0–5). Ninety-seven percent of the patients were willing to repeat the procedure using SP.
Conclusions
In a busy, outpatient setting, SP is an efficacious and highly acceptable bowel preparation regimen prior to colonoscopy.
Authors' Contributions
P.A. contributed to the methodology, data curation, investigation, writing—original draft preparation, formal analysis, and validation. A.K.N. contributed to data curation, methodology, and investigation. S.P.S. contributed to conceptualization, methodology, supervision, visualization, validation, resources, writing—reviewing and editing, and project administration. C.R.K. contributed to writing—reviewing and editing. M.K.P. contributed to the methodology and supervision.
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Ethics Approval Statement
Ethical approval was taken from the Kalinga Gastroenterology Foundation (KGF) Institutional Ethics Committee, Cuttack, Odisha
Patient Consent Statement
Informed consent has been taken from all subjects prior to the study.
Publication History
Article published online:
20 March 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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