From prep to procedure: Impact of bowel preparation agents on outcomes in hospitalized patients

Purpose: Adequate bowel preparation is crucial for successful colonoscopy, preventing delays, missed findings, and higher costs. This study compared small-volume preparation (SVP) and large-volume preparation (LVP) in hospitalized patients. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study included 107 patients (SVP: 56, LVP: 51). Primary outcome: time from bowel preparation to colonoscopy. Secondary outcomes: time from admission to colonoscopy, need for additional cleansing, rate of morning colonoscopies, and hospital length of stay (LOS). Results: Median time to colonoscopy was similar (SVP: 21.2 hours, LVP: 19.9 hours; p=0.99). Hospital LOS (SVP: 5.7 days, LVP: 7.1 days; p=0.74) and time from admission to colonoscopy (SVP: 3.6 days, LVP: 3.1 days; p=0.60) showed no significant difference. More LVP patients needed adjunctive laxatives (41% vs. 13%; p<0.001). No significant difference in morning colonoscopies (p=0.25) or additional preparation (p=0.29). Conclusion: SVP and LVP had similar times to colonoscopy and LOS, but LVP required more adjunctive laxatives, indicating lower cleansing efficacy. Further studies are needed.