One-Liter PEG-Ascorbate Improves High-Quality Inpatient Bowel Cleansing

Achieving adequate bowel cleansing is a prerequisite for high-quality colonoscopy, yet it remains a significant clinical hurdle in the inpatient setting where patient factors often impede preparation success. While 4-liter polyethylene glycol (a high-volume osmotic laxative) has long been a standard, its high volume frequently leads to poor compliance and patient discomfort [1, 2, 3]. Recent shifts in outpatient care have favored low-volume alternatives and split-dose regimens, which involve dividing the laxative dose between the evening before and the morning of the procedure to improve tolerability and mucosal visualization [4, 5]. However, data specifically addressing the unique needs of hospitalized adults have been limited, leaving clinicians to balance the necessity of thorough cleansing against the practical challenges of volume intolerance [6, 7]. A multicenter randomized trial now provides evidence regarding the efficacy and tolerability of very low-volume polyethylene glycol regimens in the inpatient population, offering a potential strategy to improve diagnostic yield without compromising patient comfort.