Pediatric bowel preparation: Sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, citric acid vs polyethylene glycol, a randomized trial

Figure 1 Consort diagram of study population. One participant in the SPMC ½ dose x2 group received SPMC 1 dose x2 treatment. ITT: Intent-to-treat; PEG: Polyethylene glycol; PP: Per protocol; SPMC; Sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and citric acid.

Figure 2 The majority of participants receiving sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and citric acid 1 dose x2 in both age groups were responders for overall colon cleansing on the modified Aronchick scale (AS; ‘excellent’ or ‘good’), rated by a treatment-blinded endoscopist. The responder rates of SPMC 1 dose x2 group were similar to PEG group. SPMC; Sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and citric acid; PEG: Polyethylene glycol.

Figure 3 Participants were asked “How easy was it to drink the bowel cleanout regimen?”. Overall, 43.8% of participants receiving SPMC 1 dose x2 reported it was ‘very easy’ or ‘easy’ to drink, compared with 20.0% receiving PEG.

Figure 4 Participants were asked “How often did your tummy hurt since you started the cleanout?”. 28% of participants receiving sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and citric acid (SPMC) 1 dose x2 reported ‘never’ hurting, compared with 6.7% receiving polyethylene glycol (PEG). Only 12.5% of those receiving SPMC 1 dose x2 reported abdominal discomfort ‘often’ or ‘very often’, whereas 33.4% receiving PEG did. Participants with no response are not shown on the graphs and, therefore, numbers may not add to 100%. SPMC: Sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and citric acid; PEG: Polyethylene glycol.