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Published on: August 1, 2019
A low-residue breakfast improves patient tolerance without impacting quality of low-volume colon cleansing prior to
Andrea Melicharkova1, Jennifer Flemming, Stephen Vanner
1Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Objectives:
We compared the efficacy and patient tolerance of two dietary regimens used as an adjunct to standard bowel cleansing in preparation for elective colonoscopy.
Methods:
Our prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled, noninferiority trial compared two dietary regimens administered the day before colonoscopy. Subjects received low-volume bowel preparation. The primary outcome was efficacy of colon cleansing, rated by the Ottawa bowel preparation scale (OBPS). Patient acceptance of the assigned dietary regimen was assessed as a secondary outcome.
Results:
The mean OBPS score for the standard clear-fluid diet group was 4.47, compared with 4.62 for the low-residue breakfast group, meeting criteria for noninferiority. The groups reported similar mean intensity of hunger on a visual analog hunger scale. However, overall satisfaction was higher with the low-residue diet than with the clear-fluid diet.
Conclusions:
A low-residue breakfast on the day before elective colonoscopy does not compromise the overall quality of bowel preparation as compared with a standard clear-fluid diet and is likely to be preferred by patients.
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