Comparison of two schemes of small bowel preparation for capsule endoscopy with polyethylene glycol: a prospective, randomized single-blind study

Objective Small bowel preparation for capsule endoscopy remains controversial. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of 2 and 41 of polyethylene glycol. Methods One hundred and one patients (group A) received 21 and 100 (group B) received 41 in a prospective, randomized single-blind trial. To objectively evaluate enteric preparation, a cleansing coefficient was calculated for each patient. Results The two groups were found comparable regarding age, sex, body mass index, and reason for referral. In 82 patients of group A and in 76 of group B, examination of small bowel was completed (P=0.40). Gastric emptying time and small bowel transit time were found comparable in both groups. Cleansing coefficients, for small bowel as a whole or for proximal or distal separately, were similar among the two groups. However, the cleansing coefficient of the proximal bowel was significantly higher than that of the distal, independently of preparation (group A: P<0.001, group B: P<0.001). Small bowel preparation was related only with the age of the patients and gastric emptying time; the younger the patient or the shorter the gastric emptying time, the higher the cleansing coefficient. Pathological findings were found in 43 (42.6%) patients of group A and in 37 (37.090) patients of group B (P=0.42). A final positive diagnosis was established in 33 (32.7%) patients of group A and in 29 (29.0%) of group B (P=0.57). Conclusion The two schemes were equal regarding enteric cleansing and completion of the procedure. Therefore, 21 seems to be an adequate preparation for capsule endoscopy. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21:1140-1144 (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.