Evaluation of Bowel Cleansing Agents on Colonoscopy Outcomes: A Retrospective Study of Preparation Quality and Procedure Metrics

Adequate bowel preparation is essential for colonoscopy, directly influencing diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic safety, and procedural efficiency. Different cleansing agents, including polyethylene glycol (PEG), sodium phosphate, and sennosides, are commonly used in clinical practice, but their comparative effectiveness remains debated.

The primary aim of this study was to compare the bowel cleansing efficacy of senna, sodium phosphate, and PEG using the Aronchick Bowel Preparation Scale. Additionally, we sought to evaluate secondary objectives, including the impact of these agents on cecal intubation time, lesion detection rates, and patient tolerability.

Patients were categorized into three groups based on bowel preparation regimen: PEG, sodium phosphate, and sennosides. Data collected included demographic characteristics, preparation quality assessed by the Aronchick Bowel Preparation Scale, procedure time, cecal intubation success, and detection of polyps or diverticula.

A total of 200 patients were included. The overall mean Aronchick score was 2.09±1.07, with no statistically significant difference among groups ( P =0.325). Polyp detection ( P =0.084), diverticula presence ( P =0.059), and maneuver requirement ( P =0.060) were also comparable. However, cecal intubation time differed significantly ( P <0.001).

In conclusion, all three bowel preparation agents were comparable in terms of cleansing quality and tolerability. However, sodium phosphate was associated with a shorter cecal intubation time. These findings suggest that bowel preparation should be individualized based on patient characteristics and institutional practices. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these results.