ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the optimal bowel preparation for capsule endoscopy (CE). Methods 102 patients were recruited for CE and randomly divided into 3 groups. The group A (n = 40) : patients received polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder (PEG) 137.12 g dissolved in 2 000 ml water at 21:00 one day prior to CE, and taken PEG 68.56 g dissolved in 1 000 ml of water four hours before the procedure. Group B (n = 32): patients received PEG 205.68 g dissolved in 3 000 ml of water four hours prior to CE. Group C (n = 30): patients used a 500 ml 20% mannitol and 2 500 ml water bowel preparation four hours prior to CE. All patients were treated with 120 mg simethicone immediately after swallowing CE. The incidences of adverse events, small-bowel preparation quality and transit time were analyzed. Results The adverse effects rate in each group was similar (15.00%, 15.63% vs 16.67%, P > 0.05). The small-bowel preparation quality was better in both B and C groups than A group (P < 0.05). In the C Group, small-bowel preparation quality was slightly better than the B group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In comparison with patients in both B and C groups, those in A group had a longer small-bowel transit time (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference between B and C group (P > 0.05). Conclusion Bowel cleansing effect was better in single dose regimen than split dose protocol. The single dose regimen of 500 ml 20% Mannitol for bowel preparation is suitable prior to CE.