Endoscopy for patients affected by inflammatory bowel disease: bowel preparation and sedation

Endoscopy has a key role in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is helpful in the diagnosis, in case of relapse, refractoriness, before therapeutic changes, after surgery as well as in the assessment of mucosal healing and in the surveillance of colo-rectal cancer. IBD patients are intended to undergo several times the examination during their lifespan. Bowel preparation and sedation highly contribute to high-quality colonoscopy. Areas covered: Few studies addressed preparation and sedation in the field of IBD. In this review, we focused our attention on the available evidences about bowel preparation and sedation in patients with IBD. Expert commentary: In recent years, the goal of medical treatment in IBD is shifting from clinical improvement in symptoms towards mucosal healing. High-quality endoscopy will gain even more importance in the management of IBD. It is important to locate the most effective preparation and the best sedation in patient with IBD to perform a high-quality endoscopy.