Low-Volume Bowel Prep for Inpatient Colonoscopy

Which bowel preparation is best for hospitalized adults undergoing colonoscopy is unclear. In this open-label, noninferiority trial from Italy, 665 such patients (mean age, 68) were randomized to one of three split-dose polyethylene glycol (PEG)–based regimens: 1-liter PEG-ascorbate, 2-liter PEG-ascorbate, or 4-liter PEG-simethicone (Figure 1). The most common indications for colonoscopy were bleeding, anemia, and imaging findings suggestive of malignancy. More than 90% of people in each group were able to consume at least three quarters of the assigned preparation.