Chronic constipation interferes with colonoscopic bowel preparation (BP). Sachets of polyethylene glycol plus electrolytes (PEG+E) are used for chronic constipation.

Yoshida N. et al., in their study, describe the efficacy of PEG+E in improving chronic constipation and poor colonoscopic BP related to it. They investigated 106 patients of age >/=20 years diagnosed with chronic constipation with a fair or poor previous colonoscopic BP Aronchick score.

The investigators prescribed Two or four sachets of PEG+E (13.7 or 27.4 g/day) for one week before colonoscopy; and analyzed the rate of improvement in BP, effect-related factors, spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs), stool consistency, improvement of constipation symptoms, and adverse events. 

They found a mean age of 69.5 +/- 9.4 years in the enrolled participants. Their BP improved by 72.6%, and also the insertion time and pain score improved. Performance status of 1 or 2 was associated with poor BP. The participants SBMs (times/week) increased significantly. The investigators observed overall improvement rates of SBMs, stool consistency, symptoms of constipation, and rate of adverse events as 58.5%, 90.6%, 59.4%, and 6.6%, respectively, with no significant differences concerning age or gender. 

This report confirms the effectiveness of short-duration PEG+E in improving poor BP and chronic constipation. 

Yoshida N, Inagaki Y, Fukumoto K, et al. The Efficacy of Short-Duration Polyethylene Glycol plus Electrolytes for Improving Bowel Preparation of Colonoscopy in Patients with Chronic Constipation. Gastroenterology Research and Practice. 2020; 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8886073