A Randomized Prospective Trial Comparing Low-volume Bowel Preparation Methods

Colonoscopy is a common screening method to detect polyps and CRC. With the early detection of CRC through screening colonoscopy, patients could have better therapeutic effects and outcomes. In population screening programs, an increase in completed colonoscopies is related to a decrease in mortality from CRC. However, the miss rate for detecting colorectal neoplastic polyps of colonoscopy is 5-28%. The reluctance of participants to undergo bowel preparation results in the relatively low rate of detection of polyps and CRC, because poor preparation interferes with successful colon mucosa examination during a colonoscopy.
Low-volume bowel preparations provide equivalent cleansing effect compared with standard 4 liter polyethylene glycol. However, studies comparing the superiority between low-volume bowel preparations are rare, and results are controversial. This study aimed to compare the bowel cleansing quality and tolerability between split-dose sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate and polyethylene glycol with ascorbic acid.