title: Low-Volume Polyethylene Glycol with Ascorbic Acid for Colonoscopy Preparation in Elderly Patients: A Randomized Multicenter Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimal data exist regarding the use of low-volume purgatives for elderly (≥65 years) patients. We aimed to investigate the bowel-cleansing efficacy and patient tolerability of split-dose 2 liters (L)-polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid (2L-PEGA) in elderly outpatients undergoing colonoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent morning colonoscopies were randomly assigned to one of 3 arms: single-dose 4L-PEG on the day before colonoscopy; split-dose 4L-PEG; or split-dose 2L-PEGA. The quality of bowel preparation was assessed using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 230 patients enrolled, 198 were analyzed. The proportion of adequate bowel preparations in split-dose 2L-PEGA was higher than that in single-dose 4L-PEG (92.1 vs. 75.0%, p = 0.009) and similar to split-dose 4L-PEG. The mean BBPS scores for global and right colon preparation in the split-dose 2L-PEGA were comparable to split-dose 4L-PEG but higher than those in the single-dose 4L-PEG. The proportion of patients who ingested the entire volume of solution in 2L-PEGA was higher than that in single-dose 4L-PEG (96.8 vs. 80.9%, p = 0.011). Patients receiving 2L-PEGA expressed more willingness to repeat the same preparation than other groups. The rate of adverse events did not differ among the 3 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Split-dose 2L-PEGA was an effective, safe, and comfortable method for colonoscopy preparation in elderly outpatients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Chang Kyun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.forename: Dong Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Soo
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hyo Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D001205:Ascorbic Acid