title: Use of Powder PEG-3350 as a Sole Bowel Preparation: Clinical Case Series of 245 Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of low-volume powder polyethylene glycol (PEG)-3350 as a sole bowel preparation for colonoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case series examined 245 consecutive patients (a mixture of inpatients and outpatients undergoing screening colonoscopy) at a hospital endoscopy center over a 2-year period. The patients received powder PEG-3350 in the amount of 204 g dissolved in 32 oz of water and taken in 3 divided doses 1 hour apart with 8 oz of water in between each dose. Colon preparation scores (CPS) were used to assess the quality of colon cleansing. The results obtained from the 245 patients were collated and compared to those of patients receiving sodium phosphate, the historical control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean CPS was calculated to be 3.43, with a standard deviation of 1.12. Of the 245 patients, 92 were scored with a grade of 4, and 5 patients had incomplete colonoscopies secondary to failure of bowel preparation (CPS=0). Among the remaining patients, 22 and 26 were graded as poor (CPS=1) or fair (CPS=2) bowel preparations, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low-volume powder PEG-3350 formula used in our case series showed effective colon cleansing and may be considered for use as a sole bowel preparation.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Arora is a Resident in Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins University-Sinai Hospital Program in Internal Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Okolo III serves as Chief of Endoscopy and Assistant Professor in the Department of Gastroenterology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Patrick I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Okolo