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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Efficacy and safety of oral sodium phosphate versus polyethylene glycol solution for bowel preparation for
D Nageshwar Reddy1, G V Rao, P V J Sriram
1Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, 6-3-652 Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500 082. nage@sify.com
Objective:
To assess the acceptability, safety and effectiveness of an oral sodium phosphate solution (Exelyte) for colon preparation prior to colonoscopy, compared with a polyethylene glycol solution (Peglec).
Method:
A colonoscopist-blinded, prospective, randomized, observational clinical study.
Patients:
One hundred patients undergoing colonoscopy for various indications were randomized (n = 50 each) to receive either 90 mL of oral sodium phosphate mixed with 300 mL clear liquid and then consume about 4-5 glasses of water, or 2 liters of polyethylene glycol solution.
Result:
Sodium phosphate showed a safety profile similar to that of polyethylene glycol. However, patients tolerated it better. The colonoscopist reported similar cleansing of bowel in both groups.
Conclusion:
Oral sodium phosphate is well tolerated, is safe and provides bowel cleansing similar to that with a polyethylene glycol solution.
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