Does Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Plus Ascorbic Acid Induce More Mucosal Injuries than Split-Dose 4-L PEG during Bowel...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Colorectal Cancer Screening

Background:

• Colonoscopy preparation is crucial for effective diagnosis.
• Traditional bowel preparations can have suboptimal patient tolerance.
• Optimizing bowel preparation enhances colonoscopy outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare split-dose polyethylene glycol (SD-PEG) with low-volume PEG plus ascorbic acid (LV-PEG+Asc).
• To evaluate bowel-cleansing efficacy, patient preference, and mucosal injury.
• To determine the optimal preparation for outpatient colonoscopies.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 319 patients undergoing outpatient colonoscopies.
• Patients were randomized to receive either SD-PEG or LV-PEG+Asc.
• Bowel cleansing was assessed using the Ottawa bowel preparation scale, with patient affinity and mucosal injury also evaluated.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in bowel-cleansing efficacy was observed between SD-PEG and LV-PEG+Asc.
• Patients receiving LV-PEG+Asc reported significantly better acceptance and preference.
• The incidence and characteristics of mucosal injuries were similar in both groups.

Conclusions:

• LV-PEG+Asc provides equivalent bowel cleansing to SD-PEG.
• LV-PEG+Asc demonstrates superior patient acceptance and preference.
• LV-PEG+Asc is a safe and effective alternative for routine colonoscopies, minimizing mucosal injury.