Abstract:

Background and Aims: Polyethylene glycol and oral sodium phosphate solutions are widely used agents in colon cleansing. Although there are studies in the literature comparing the efficacy of these agents, this issue has not been evaluated sufficiently in patients with constipation. Our aim was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of polyethylene glycol and oral sodium phosphate in patients with constipation. Materials and Methods: Fifty-seven patients with functional constipation and constipation-dominant irritable bowel syndrome were included. Of these, 28 were in the polyethylene glycol group and 29 were in the sodium phosphate group. A questionnaire including demographic features and problems encountered during the bowel preparation was applied. In addition, the quality of the colonic preparation was scored. Data were compared between groups. Results: Abdominal pain and nausea (p=0.04 and 0.012, respectively) in the sodium phosphate group and abdominal bloating (p=0.03) in the polyethylene glycol group were more common than in the other group, respectively. Although there was no statistically significant difference between groups with respect to the rate of clean colon (p=0.180), the rate of perfect cleansing was higher in the polyethylene glycol group (71.5% vs 55.2%). Conclusions: Polyethylene glycol and sodium phosphate demonstrated a similar efficiency and side effect profile in patients with constipation. Abdominal bloating in the polyethylene glycol group and nausea and abdominal pain in the sodium phosphate group were the dominant side effects. Further studies with wider study populations are needed to reach a more definitive conclusion.

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