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Comparing reduced-dose sodium phosphate tablets to 2 L of polyethylene glycol: A randomized study
Soichiro Ako1, Koji Takemoto1, Eriko Yasutomi1
1Soichiro Ako, Koji Takemoto, Eriko Yasutomi, Chihiro Sakaguchi, Mayu Murakami, Tomoko Sunami, Shohei Oka, Hamada Kenta, Noriko Okazaki, Yuki Baba, Yasushi Yamasaki, Toshiyuki Asato, Daisuke Kawai, Ryuta Takenaka, Hirohumi Tsugeno, Shigeatsu Fujiki, Department of Gastroenterology, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital, Tsuyama City, Okayama 708-0841, Japan.
Aim:
To compare the tolerability and quality of bowel cleansing between 2 L polyethylene glycol (PEG) and reduced-dose sodium phosphate (NaP) tablets as a preparation for colonoscopy.
Methods:
Two hundred patients were randomly assigned to the PEG or NaP groups at the same ratio. The NaP group patients took 30 tablets with 2 L of clear liquid, while the PEG group patients took 2L of PEG. Tolerability was assessed by a questionnaire about taste, volume, and the overall impression. The bowel cleansing quality was evaluated by colonoscopists.
Results:
Although NaP showed better tolerability in terms of taste, volume and overall impression (P < 0.01, P < 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively), the overall cleansing quality was better in the PEG group (P < 0.01). A subgroup analysis, stratified by sex and age, indicated that NaP was associated with better tolerability and equivalent bowel cleansing quality in females of < 50 years of age.
Conclusion:
Despite the better tolerability, the use of 30 NaP tablets with 2 L of clear liquid should be limited due to its lower cleansing quality; however, in certain cases the regimen may deserve consideration, particularly in cases involving young women.
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