Comparison of Electrolyte Beverages and Water as Solvents for Bowel Preparation

The application of electronic colonoscopy has shown a significant upward trend in the diagnosis, screening, and health check-ups for colorectal diseases.

To clean the colon, patients must consume several liters of bowel preparation solution in a short period before the procedure.

However, a significant number of patients experience nausea or even vomiting, preventing them from completing the recommended dose, resulting in suboptimal bowel preparation and affecting the colonoscopy process.

Therefore, the investigators have designed a protocol that uses sugar-free electrolyte beverages instead of regular drinking water as a solvent for the laxative solution. By improving the taste of the oral solution and increasing the electrolyte content, the investigators aim to enhance patient compliance with colonoscopy preparation and ultimately assess the effectiveness of bowel cleansing.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy individuals or those with mild or well-controlled chronic diseases.
• Patients scheduled for outpatient colonoscopy.
• Patients prescribed sodium phosphate or polyethylene glycol for bowel preparation.
• Willing to participate and sign the informed consent form.
• Age ≥18 years
• ECOG performance status <2

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who refuse to participate in the study.
• Patients requiring enema preparation.
• Uncontrolled hypertension.
• Patients with diabetes.
• Pregnant patients.
• Suspected bowel obstruction.
• Risk of aspiration.
• Patients with severe ulcerative colitis, gastric retention, bowel perforation, toxic colitis, or megacolon.
• Patients with severe systemic diseases (including NYHA class 3-4 heart failure, Child-Pugh class C liver failure).
• Patients with a known allergy to polyethylene glycol.
• Patients with a history of major gastrointestinal surgery or any other conditions that may interfere with study outcomes or adherence.