Split-Dosing Does Not Elevate Residual Gastric Volume in Inpatients

In both a previous observational study primarily involving outpatients and a randomized, controlled trial, residual gastric volume after split-dosing was similar to or lower than residual gastric volume in patients receiving evening-before bowel preparation.

To investigate this issue in an inpatient setting, researchers prospectively compared residual gastric volume between 75 patients who received split-dose bowel preparation (with the assent of the endoscopist) completed 2 to 3 hours before endoscopy, and 75 patients who received evening-before preparation.

The mean residual gastric volume was 21 mL in the split-dose group and 24 mL in the evening-before group (P=0.08). Opioid use, gastroparesis, and diabetes each had no effect on residual …