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A 61-year-old man is seen for a primary care visit. He has a history of colonic polyps (tubular adenoma) on two previous colonoscopies (at age 50 and 55). He has been on an appropriate 5-year schedule, but is overdue for his colonoscopy. He did not follow up with messages from his gastroenterologist for scheduling his colonoscopy last year. He explains he really hates the whole preparation for colonoscopy, but does realize he needs to follow up, and is willing to do so now. What do you recommend for colonoscopy prep? 
A) Diet as usual until 5 p.m. day before, then clear liquid diet. Start GoLYTELY (1 gallon) night before procedure.
B) Low-fiber diet X2 days, clear liquid diet day before procedure, GoLYTELY (1 gallon) night before procedure.
C) Low residue diet X3 days, SUPREP the night before the procedure.
D) Low residue diet X2 days, followed by clear liquid diet the day before the procedure, SUPREP the night before the procedure.
It is common for patients to be reluctant to follow recommendations for colonoscopy due to dreading the prep. I would recommend choice C here, as the least difficult bowel preparation for colonoscopy.
Gastroenterologists are usually the ones to recommend the bowel prep that they want their patients to follow.
Major diet change for several days before colonoscopy is difficult for many patients. Standard advice is that patients eat only low-fiber foods starting 3 days before the procedure. Patients are advised to switch to a completely clear liquid diet 1-2 days before the colonoscopy.
Are there more tolerable diets to offer patients?
Soweid and colleagues randomized 200 patients to a low residue diet for the three meals the day before colonoscopy vs. clear liquid diet.1 The low residue diet allowed patients to eat meat, eggs, cheese, bread, rice, and ice cream. Not surprisingly, patients tolerated the low residue diet better with statistically significantly less nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, sleep difficulties, and hunger. The patients in the low residue diet group also had better bowel prep than did those in the clear liquid diet group (81% vs. 52%, P less than 0.001).1
In a recent meta- analysis, low residue diets were comparable to clear liquid diets in regard to adequacy of bowel prep and for detection of polyps.2 Patients who followed low residue diets had statistically significantly less headaches, nausea, vomiting, and hunger. Very importantly, patients who followed low residue diets showed an increased willingness to repeat it, compared with those who followed a clear liquid diet (P less than .005; odds ratio, 2.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-3.89).2
What alternatives to GoLYTELY exist?
Another part of the bowel prep that patients struggle with is drinking a gallon of GoLYTELY (polyethylene glycol/electrolytes). Drinking that amount of this nasty stuff is never welcome.
There are a number of lower-volume alternatives that are as effective as GoLYTELY. Sarvepalli and colleagues did a retrospective study of 75,874 patients who had a colonoscopy in the Cleveland Clinic health system.3 The choice of bowel prep was not associated with adenoma detection.
Patients who lower volume preparations (2 quarts) SUPREP, MoviPrep, Osmoprep and HalfLytely had varying results of rates of inadequate bowel prep compared with patients who took GoLYTELY. Results for patients taking SUPREP and MoviPrep were statistically significantly better than for patients taking GoLYTELY. Results for patients taking OsmoPrep were not statistically different from those for patients taking GoLYTELY. Rates of inadequate bowel prep were statistically higher, meaning worse, for patients taking HalfLytely vs. patients taking GoLYTELY.3
Gu and colleagues did a prospective study of bowel prep outcomes from 4,339 colonoscopies, involving 75 different endoscopists.4 There was a wide range of bowel preps used, including low- and high-volume bowel preps. The low-volume preparations, SUPREP (P less than .001), MoviPrep (P less than .004) and MiraLAX with Gatorade (P less than .001), were superior to GoLYTELY for bowel cleansing. This was based on scoring via the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale. All were better tolerated than GoLYTELY.
Myth: All patients need a clear liquid diet and GoLYTELY for their bowel prep.
Dr. Paauw is professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, and he serves as third-year medical student clerkship director at the University of Washington. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of Internal Medicine News. Dr. Paauw has no conflicts to disclose. Contact him at imnews@mdedge.com.
References
1. Soweid AM et al. A randomized single-blind trial of standard diet versus fiber-free diet with polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution for colonoscopy preparation. Endoscopy 2010;42:633-8.
2. Zhang X et al. Low-[residue] diet versus clear-liquid diet for bowel preparation before colonoscopy: meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials. Gastrointest Endosc. 2020 Sep;92(3):508-18.
3. Sarvepalli S et al. Comparative effectiveness of commercial bowel preparations in ambulatory patients presenting for screening or surveillance colonoscopy. Dig Dis Sci. 2020 Jul 20. doi: 10.1007/s10620-020-06492-z.
4. Gu P et al. Comparing the real-world effectiveness of competing colonoscopy preparations: results of a prospective trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(2):305-14.
A 61-year-old man is seen for a primary care visit. He has a history of colonic polyps (tubular adenoma) on two previous colonoscopies (at age 50 and 55). He has been on an appropriate 5-year schedule, but is overdue for his colonoscopy. He did not follow up with messages from his gastroenterologist for scheduling his colonoscopy last year. He explains he really hates the whole preparation for colonoscopy, but does realize he needs to follow up, and is willing to do so now. What do you recommend for colonoscopy prep?
A) Diet as usual until 5 p.m. day before, then clear liquid diet. Start GoLYTELY (1 gallon) night before procedure.
B) Low-fiber diet X2 days, clear liquid diet day before procedure, GoLYTELY (1 gallon) night before procedure.
C) Low residue diet X3 days, SUPREP the night before the procedure.
D) Low residue diet X2 days, followed by clear liquid diet the day before the procedure, SUPREP the night before the procedure.
It is common for patients to be reluctant to follow recommendations for colonoscopy due to dreading the prep. I would recommend choice C here, as the least difficult bowel preparation for colonoscopy.
Gastroenterologists are usually the ones to recommend the bowel prep that they want their patients to follow.
Major diet change for several days before colonoscopy is difficult for many patients. Standard advice is that patients eat only low-fiber foods starting 3 days before the procedure. Patients are advised to switch to a completely clear liquid diet 1-2 days before the colonoscopy.
Are there more tolerable diets to offer patients?
Soweid and colleagues randomized 200 patients to a low residue diet for the three meals the day before colonoscopy vs. clear liquid diet.1 The low residue diet allowed patients to eat meat, eggs, cheese, bread, rice, and ice cream. Not surprisingly, patients tolerated the low residue diet better with statistically significantly less nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, sleep difficulties, and hunger. The patients in the low residue diet group also had better bowel prep than did those in the clear liquid diet group (81% vs. 52%, P less than 0.001).1
In a recent meta- analysis, low residue diets were comparable to clear liquid diets in regard to adequacy of bowel prep and for detection of polyps.2 Patients who followed low residue diets had statistically significantly less headaches, nausea, vomiting, and hunger. Very importantly, patients who followed low residue diets showed an increased willingness to repeat it, compared with those who followed a clear liquid diet (P less than .005; odds ratio, 2.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-3.89).2
What alternatives to GoLYTELY exist?
Another part of the bowel prep that patients struggle with is drinking a gallon of GoLYTELY (polyethylene glycol/electrolytes). Drinking that amount of this nasty stuff is never welcome.
There are a number of lower-volume alternatives that are as effective as GoLYTELY. Sarvepalli and colleagues did a retrospective study of 75,874 patients who had a colonoscopy in the Cleveland Clinic health system.3 The choice of bowel prep was not associated with adenoma detection.
Patients who lower volume preparations (2 quarts) SUPREP, MoviPrep, Osmoprep and HalfLytely had varying results of rates of inadequate bowel prep compared with patients who took GoLYTELY. Results for patients taking SUPREP and MoviPrep were statistically significantly better than for patients taking GoLYTELY. Results for patients taking OsmoPrep were not statistically different from those for patients taking GoLYTELY. Rates of inadequate bowel prep were statistically higher, meaning worse, for patients taking HalfLytely vs. patients taking GoLYTELY.3
Gu and colleagues did a prospective study of bowel prep outcomes from 4,339 colonoscopies, involving 75 different endoscopists.4 There was a wide range of bowel preps used, including low- and high-volume bowel preps. The low-volume preparations, SUPREP (P less than .001), MoviPrep (P less than .004) and MiraLAX with Gatorade (P less than .001), were superior to GoLYTELY for bowel cleansing. This was based on scoring via the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale. All were better tolerated than GoLYTELY.
Myth: All patients need a clear liquid diet and GoLYTELY for their bowel prep.
Dr. Paauw is professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, and he serves as third-year medical student clerkship director at the University of Washington. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of Internal Medicine News. Dr. Paauw has no conflicts to disclose. Contact him at imnews@mdedge.com.
References
1. Soweid AM et al. A randomized single-blind trial of standard diet versus fiber-free diet with polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution for colonoscopy preparation. Endoscopy 2010;42:633-8.
2. Zhang X et al. Low-[residue] diet versus clear-liquid diet for bowel preparation before colonoscopy: meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials. Gastrointest Endosc. 2020 Sep;92(3):508-18.
3. Sarvepalli S et al. Comparative effectiveness of commercial bowel preparations in ambulatory patients presenting for screening or surveillance colonoscopy. Dig Dis Sci. 2020 Jul 20. doi: 10.1007/s10620-020-06492-z.
4. Gu P et al. Comparing the real-world effectiveness of competing colonoscopy preparations: results of a prospective trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(2):305-14.
A 61-year-old man is seen for a primary care visit. He has a history of colonic polyps (tubular adenoma) on two previous colonoscopies (at age 50 and 55). He has been on an appropriate 5-year schedule, but is overdue for his colonoscopy. He did not follow up with messages from his gastroenterologist for scheduling his colonoscopy last year. He explains he really hates the whole preparation for colonoscopy, but does realize he needs to follow up, and is willing to do so now. What do you recommend for colonoscopy prep?
A) Diet as usual until 5 p.m. day before, then clear liquid diet. Start GoLYTELY (1 gallon) night before procedure.
B) Low-fiber diet X2 days, clear liquid diet day before procedure, GoLYTELY (1 gallon) night before procedure.
C) Low residue diet X3 days, SUPREP the night before the procedure.
D) Low residue diet X2 days, followed by clear liquid diet the day before the procedure, SUPREP the night before the procedure.
It is common for patients to be reluctant to follow recommendations for colonoscopy due to dreading the prep. I would recommend choice C here, as the least difficult bowel preparation for colonoscopy.
Gastroenterologists are usually the ones to recommend the bowel prep that they want their patients to follow.
Major diet change for several days before colonoscopy is difficult for many patients. Standard advice is that patients eat only low-fiber foods starting 3 days before the procedure. Patients are advised to switch to a completely clear liquid diet 1-2 days before the colonoscopy.
Are there more tolerable diets to offer patients?
Soweid and colleagues randomized 200 patients to a low residue diet for the three meals the day before colonoscopy vs. clear liquid diet.1 The low residue diet allowed patients to eat meat, eggs, cheese, bread, rice, and ice cream. Not surprisingly, patients tolerated the low residue diet better with statistically significantly less nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, sleep difficulties, and hunger. The patients in the low residue diet group also had better bowel prep than did those in the clear liquid diet group (81% vs. 52%, P less than 0.001).1
In a recent meta- analysis, low residue diets were comparable to clear liquid diets in regard to adequacy of bowel prep and for detection of polyps.2 Patients who followed low residue diets had statistically significantly less headaches, nausea, vomiting, and hunger. Very importantly, patients who followed low residue diets showed an increased willingness to repeat it, compared with those who followed a clear liquid diet (P less than .005; odds ratio, 2.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-3.89).2
What alternatives to GoLYTELY exist?
Another part of the bowel prep that patients struggle with is drinking a gallon of GoLYTELY (polyethylene glycol/electrolytes). Drinking that amount of this nasty stuff is never welcome.
There are a number of lower-volume alternatives that are as effective as GoLYTELY. Sarvepalli and colleagues did a retrospective study of 75,874 patients who had a colonoscopy in the Cleveland Clinic health system.3 The choice of bowel prep was not associated with adenoma detection.
Patients who lower volume preparations (2 quarts) SUPREP, MoviPrep, Osmoprep and HalfLytely had varying results of rates of inadequate bowel prep compared with patients who took GoLYTELY. Results for patients taking SUPREP and MoviPrep were statistically significantly better than for patients taking GoLYTELY. Results for patients taking OsmoPrep were not statistically different from those for patients taking GoLYTELY. Rates of inadequate bowel prep were statistically higher, meaning worse, for patients taking HalfLytely vs. patients taking GoLYTELY.3
Gu and colleagues did a prospective study of bowel prep outcomes from 4,339 colonoscopies, involving 75 different endoscopists.4 There was a wide range of bowel preps used, including low- and high-volume bowel preps. The low-volume preparations, SUPREP (P less than .001), MoviPrep (P less than .004) and MiraLAX with Gatorade (P less than .001), were superior to GoLYTELY for bowel cleansing. This was based on scoring via the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale. All were better tolerated than GoLYTELY.
Myth: All patients need a clear liquid diet and GoLYTELY for their bowel prep.
Dr. Paauw is professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, and he serves as third-year medical student clerkship director at the University of Washington. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of Internal Medicine News. Dr. Paauw has no conflicts to disclose. Contact him at imnews@mdedge.com.
References
1. Soweid AM et al. A randomized single-blind trial of standard diet versus fiber-free diet with polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution for colonoscopy preparation. Endoscopy 2010;42:633-8.
2. Zhang X et al. Low-[residue] diet versus clear-liquid diet for bowel preparation before colonoscopy: meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials. Gastrointest Endosc. 2020 Sep;92(3):508-18.
3. Sarvepalli S et al. Comparative effectiveness of commercial bowel preparations in ambulatory patients presenting for screening or surveillance colonoscopy. Dig Dis Sci. 2020 Jul 20. doi: 10.1007/s10620-020-06492-z.
4. Gu P et al. Comparing the real-world effectiveness of competing colonoscopy preparations: results of a prospective trial. Am J Gastroenterol. 2019;114(2):305-14.