Sa. Afridi et al., PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED TRIAL COMPARING A NEW SODIUM PHOSPHATE-BISACODYL REGIMEN WITH CONVENTIONAL PEG-ES LAVAGE FOR OUTPATIENT COLONOSCOPYPREPARATION, Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 41(5), 1995, pp. 485-489
Background: Several recent trials have shown that colonoscopy preparat
ion with sodium phosphate solution is as effective and at least as wel
l tolerated as conventional PEG-ES lavage. These trials utilized two 1
.5-fluid oz doses, one given on the evening before colonoscopy and the
other early the next morning. Methods: We devised a new sodium phosph
ate regimen in which the entire dose was given on the evening before e
xamination (1.5 fl oz at 4 PM, 1.5-fl oz at 7 PM and 10 mg of bisacody
l at 10 PM) and performed a prospective, randomized trial that compare
d it with conventional PEG-ES lavage in terms of quality of colon clea
nsing, patient tolerance, and safety in an outpatient colonoscopy popu
lation with normal renal function. Seventy-two patients received sodiu
m phosphate-bisacodyl and 75 PEG-ES lavage. Results: The overall quali
ty of colon cleansing and frequency of unsatisfactory preparations wer
e similar with both methods. Patients found preparation with sodium ph
osphate-bisacodyl to be easier than PEG-ES lavage (p = 0.005). No clin
ically important adverse effects were seen with either method of prepa
ration. The average cost of sodium phosphate-bisacodyl was $4.32 per p
atient compared with $18.15 for PEG-ES lavage preparation. Conclusion:
Preparation with sodium phosphate-bisacodyl, given on the evening bef
ore colonoscopy, is a well-tolerated, efficacious, and cost-effective
alternative to conventional PEG-ES lavage.