High- versus low-volume polyethylene glycol plus laxative versus sennosides for colonoscopy preparation in children.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Many protocols of bowel preparation are available for use in children; however, none of them is commonly accepted. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of high-volume polyethylene glycol (PEG) versus low-volume PEG combined with bisacodyl (BPEG) versus sennosides for colonoscopy preparation in children. METHODS: Participants ages 10 to 18 years were randomly assigned to receive either PEG 60 or PEG 30 mL kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ plus oral bisacodyl 10 to 15 mg/day or sennosides 2 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ for 2 days. A blinded assessment of bowel cleansing was made by the endoscopist according to the Aronchick and Ottawa scales. Patient acceptability was evaluated with the visual-analog scale. Analysis was done on an available case analysis basis. RESULTS: Of 240 patients enrolled in the study 234 patients were available for analysis of the efficacy of colon cleansing. There were no significant differences found among the 3 groups for the proportions of participants with excellent/good (PEG 35/79, BPEG 26/79, sennosides 25/76) and poor/inadequate (PEG 20/79, BPEG 28/79, sennosides 28/76) bowel preparation evaluated with the Aronchick scale and for the mean Ottawa total score (PEG 5.47 ±â€Š3.63, BPEG 6.22 ±â€Š3.3, sennosides 6.18 ±â€Š3.53). Acceptability of bowel cleansing protocol was similar in all of the groups (P = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: All 3 cleansing methods showed similar efficacy and tolerability; however, none of them was satisfactory.