Oral simethicone tablets with PEG‐ELS split‐prep reduces frequency of inadequate bowel cleansing and decreases bubbles

Abstract

Background: Intraluminal bubbles may prevent the visualisation of mucosa during a colonoscopy. Simethicone minimises bubbles, but its impact on incomplete bowel preparation and optimal protocols for use are unclear. Aim:To assess the impact of oral simethicone tablets when added to 2-litre, splitprep, polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution + ascorbic acid on bubble score and frequency of incomplete bowel preparation.Methods: This QA/QI project assessed outpatients who underwent colonoscopy at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System. After endoscopists were trained in intraluminal bubble scoring systems, data about bubble score, frequency of inadequate bowel preparation requiring early repeat colonoscopy, quality of bowel preparation using Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS), and patient tolerance were collected before and after addition of oral simethicone 160mg to each dose of 2-litre split-prep.Results: There were no differences in patient characteristics between the baseline group (n = 348) and the simethicone group (n = 354). Simethicone improved the total mean intraluminal bubble score from 8.18 to 8.78 (P < 0.001). Early repeat colonoscopy due to inadequate bowel preparation was higher in the baseline group vs simethicone group: 8.7% vs 4.6%, P = 0.03 with an RRR = 0.5 (95% CI 0.26-0.95).Using BBPS, the frequency of having inadequate cleansing in any colon segment was higher in the baseline group vs simethicone group: 6.6% vs 3.1%; RRR = 0.55 (95% CI 0.21-0.94). | 255 MARATT eT Al. How to cite this article: Maratt JK, Freeman AE, Schoenfeld P, et al. Oral simethicone tablets with PEG-ELS split-prep reduces frequency of inadequate bowel cleansing and decreases

A smartphone application to enhance bowel preparation for first-time colonoscopy: a randomized controlled study

“…The quality of bowel preparation is crucial for successful colonoscopy in terms of diagnostic accuracy and procedural safety (2,3). The adequacy of bowel preparation is affected by numerous factors, including bowel cleanliness, scoring of the colonic bubble, patient education, and compliance with instructions regarding purgatives and diet restrictions (2,(4)(5)(6)(7).…”