A single‐center retrospective study comparing 1‐day and 3‐day low‐residue diets for bowel preparation

Abstract

AbstractA low‐residue diet (LRD) is recommended as part of bowel preparation before a colonoscopy. However, the optimal duration of the LRD is unclear. A retrospective cross‐sectional study was therefore conducted at E‐Da Dachang Hospital. We compared bowel preparations using the Aronchick score and other quality metrics during two consecutive periods: May 2019 to December 2019 (3‐day LRD) and January 2020 to August 2020 (1‐day LRD). A total of 2823 patients were enrolled (1592 in the 3‐day LRD group and 1231 in the 1‐day LRD group). The most common bowel cleansing agent was sodium picosulfate and magnesium citrate (SPMC, 84.2%), followed by polyethylene glycol (PEG, 10.0%) and sodium phosphate (5.8%). Compared with patients in the 3‐day LRD group, patients in the 1‐day LRD group had higher SPMC use (88.1% vs 81.3%, P < .001) and supplemental laxative use (25.9% vs 19.3%, P < .001). The proportion of adequate bowel preparation (84.2% vs 85.1%, P = .563), cecal intubation rate, adenoma detection rate, and right‐side adenoma detection rate were not significantly different between 1‐day LRD and 3‐day LRD groups. More advanced adenomas (5.9% vs 3.4%, P = .002) and sessile serrated lesions (8.9% vs 6.3%, P = .014) were observed in the 1‐day LRD group. In addition, the types of laxatives (SPMC, sodium phosphate, and PEG) and the use of supplemental laxatives did not affect bowel preparation scores. In conclusion, a 1‐day LRD led to bowel preparation similar to that achieved through a 3‐day LRD regardless of the type of primary cleansing agent or the use of supplemental laxatives.