title: Efficacy and safety of bowel cleansing solutions for colonoscopy: a prospective observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most critical factor determining the quality of colonoscopy results is the extent of bowel cleansing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This observational post-marketing study evaluated the efficacy, acceptability and safety of a range of the most commonly used bowel cleansing solutions in routine clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing diagnostic, preventive or follow-up colonoscopy were recruited from 7 centres in Italy, Spain and Greece.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quality of bowel preparation was assessed on a 5-point scale and included evaluation of visible bowel surface area and the amount and consistency of residual fluid. Patients evaluated ease of use and palatability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 437 patients took part. Klean-Prep, the most commonly used preparation in this evaluation, achieved the highest score for quality of bowel cleansing and was rated as good or excellent in 72.0% of patients. In dosage-compliant patients, Klean-Prep showed better results in comparison to Fleet Phosphosoda (p < 0.05) in the maximum bowel level reached in the intestine during colonoscopy examinations. All of the bowel cleansing solutions were well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The polyethylene glycol-based preparations provided the most adequate cleansing and, of these, Klean-Prep provided the highest "good" or "excellent" level of bowel preparation.
authors.affiliation: E.O. Ospedali Galliera, S.C. Gastroenterologia, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allegretti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bargallò Carulla
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertelè
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franzèc
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kouroumalis
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paspatis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reina-Serrano
mesh_terms: D002400:Cathartics; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004573:Electrolytes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D004573:Electrolytes; D010710:Phosphates; D012996:Solutions; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C018279:sodium phosphate