Efficacy of bowel preparation with the use of a prepackaged, low fibre diet with a low sodium, magnesium citrate cathartic vs. a clear liquid diet with a standard sodium phosphate cathartic.
BACKGROUND
A colon free of faecal residue is required for accurate diagnostic colonoscopy. Patient tolerance of his/her colonoscopy cathartic regimen affects patient compliance and willingness to undergo repeated examinations.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a meal could be consumed during standard bowel preparation.


METHODS
This was a randomized, endoscopists' blinded comparison of the tolerability and efficacy of a prepackaged, low-residue diet (NutraPrep) combined with the LoSo Prep bowel cleansing system, which contains magnesium citrate, bisocodyl tablets and a bisocodyl suppository (NP-LS regimen), compared with a clear liquid diet and a double-dose sodium phosphate (Fleet Phospho-soda) regimen (2F regimen). Outcome measures included efficacy of bowel preparation, patient preparation tolerability, side-effects and patient safety.


RESULTS
A total of 506 patients completed the study, 222 randomized to 2F and 284 to NP-LS. The NP-LS regimen resulted in significantly better colon cleansing in terms of the proportion with good or excellent results (P = 0.025) and in significantly better patient tolerance and willingness to repeat the cathartic preparation (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The NP-LS regimen proved superior to the 2F regimen.
Delegge
M
M
Digestive Disease Center, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), SC, USA. deleggem@musc.edu
Kaplan
R
R
D001726:Bisacodyl / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002400:Cathartics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004733:Enema / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010710:Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013649:Taste
D002400:Cathartics; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D001726:Bisacodyl; D019343:Citric Acid; C110422:magnesium citrate; C018279:sodium phosphate