Published
2026-01-08
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Pharmacy Practice & Practice-Based Research
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Copyright (c) 2026 Drew A. Wells, Elizabeth Zhang, Kelsey Long, Martina Walling, Jennifer Twilla
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright of content published in INNOVATIONS in pharmacy belongs to the author(s).
From prep to procedure: Impact of bowel preparation agents on outcomes in hospitalized patients
Drew A. Wells
Methodist University Hospital
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7466-7516
Elizabeth Zhang
Methodist University Hospital
Kelsey Long
Methodist University Hospital
Martina Walling
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Jennifer Twilla
Methodist University Hospital
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v16i4.6837
Keywords: colonoscopy preparation, formulary, hospital outcomes, pharmacy
Abstract
Purpose: Adequate bowel preparation is crucial for successful colonoscopy, preventing delays, missed findings, and higher costs. This study compared small-volume preparation (SVP) and large-volume preparation (LVP) in hospitalized patients.
Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study included 107 patients (SVP: 56, LVP: 51). Primary outcome: time from bowel preparation to colonoscopy. Secondary outcomes: time from admission to colonoscopy, need for additional cleansing, rate of morning colonoscopies, and hospital length of stay (LOS).
Results: Median time to colonoscopy was similar (SVP: 21.2 hours, LVP: 19.9 hours; p=0.99). Hospital LOS (SVP: 5.7 days, LVP: 7.1 days; p=0.74) and time from admission to colonoscopy (SVP: 3.6 days, LVP: 3.1 days; p=0.60) showed no significant difference. More LVP patients needed adjunctive laxatives (41% vs. 13%; p<0.001). No significant difference in morning colonoscopies (p=0.25) or additional preparation (p=0.29).
Conclusion: SVP and LVP had similar times to colonoscopy and LOS, but LVP required more adjunctive laxatives, indicating lower cleansing efficacy. Further studies are needed.
