CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT01415687BPUpdated May 31, 2012

Split Dose Pico-Salax + Bisacodyl vs. PEG Split Dose

A Phase 3 interventional study of Polyethylene Glycol-Based Lavage and Pico-Salax (Magnesium Citrate) plus Bisacodyl in Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy, sponsored by University of Calgary. Completed at 2 sites in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 74 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2012-05-31.

Sponsored by University of Calgary · Phase 3 and Interventional

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
171
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 74 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of two bowel preparations for colonoscopy - split dose Polyethylene Glycol-Based Lavage and Pico-Salax plus Bisacodyl - with a specific emphasis on the right colon cleanliness.

The primary outcomes will be 1) quality of preparation in cleansing the colon, 2) quality of preparation in cleansing the right colon, 3) patient satisfaction. The secondary outcomes will be 1) duration of bowel preparation, 2) patient discomfort during bowel preparation.

Read the detailed description

All patients referred to the Forzani MacPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre (CCSC) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for colonoscopy will be considered for inclusion. During pre-assessments at the clinic, patients are asked to consider a general research consent. If they agree to that, then they will be approached for consideration of participating in this study and presented with an "Invitation to Participate in a Research Study" form (appendix); the study assistant will obtain final consent if they agree. Those not interested in participating will simply receive their physician's standard bowel preparation protocol. There will be no coercion of any sort. Enrollment of participants will be performed with block randomizations of 8 by using a computer-generated table, with allocation concealment maintained through the use of consecutively numbered sealed envelopes. Colonoscopists and investigators will be blinded to allocation groups. Patients will be allocated to one of two groups: (1) oral Pico-Salax (two sachets, with 1.5-2L of water following each sachet) with Dulcolax (Bisacodyl, 4 tablets); (2) split dose Polyethylene Glycol-Based Lavage (2L + 2L).

A study assistant will assign patients to their group and instruct them on the proper use of their assigned bowel preparation method. Patients will be given a tolerability questionnaire, which has been modified from a previously used questionnaire, to be completed once their bowel preparation is finished and before coming to the CCSC for the colonoscopy (included in the appendix). Patient concerns or questions regarding the preparation will be directed toward the study assistant or clinic nurses as opposed to their endoscopist, so as to avoid un-blinding the Colonoscopist. The physician performing the procedure will then complete an Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale and a validated Simplified Bowel Preparation scale to assess colon cleanliness.

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Conditions studied

  • Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy

Keywords

  • preoperative care
  • colonoscopy
  • cathartics
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In context

Lead sponsor

University of Calgary is the lead sponsor of 686 studies on the registry; 189 are open to participants now.

Of its 10 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 2 (20%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 74 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 to 74 years referred to the in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for colonoscopy will be considered for inclusion

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any history of kidney problems
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Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
171 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    PEG Arm

    Patients randomized to this arm of the trial will be following preparation instructions using Polyethylene Glycol-Based Lavage in a split dose format

    Drug: Polyethylene Glycol-Based Lavage

  • Active comparator
    Pico-Salax + Bisacodyl Arm

    Patients randomized to this arm will follow preparation instructions using Pico-Salax preparation plus Biscacodyl in a split dose format

    Drug: Pico-Salax (Magnesium Citrate) plus Bisacodyl

Interventions

  • DrugPolyethylene Glycol-Based Lavage

    Split dose Polyethylene Glycol-Based Lavage (2L + 2L) If arrival for colonoscopy is prior to 10AM: at 12 noon on the day before your colonoscopy drink 2L of PEG within two hours. At 8PM that day, drink the remaining 2L of PEG within two hours. If arrival for colonoscopy is at or after 10AM: at 8PM on the day before your colonoscopy, drink 2L of PEG within two hours. Starting five hours before your arrival time at the Centre on the day of your colonoscopy, drink the remaining 2L of PEG within two hours.

    Also known as: Colyte

  • DrugPico-Salax (Magnesium Citrate) plus Bisacodyl

    If arrival for colonoscopy is prior to 10AM: 2 tablets Dulcolax at 8PM three days before colonoscopy, 2 tablets Dulcolax at 8PM two days before colonoscopy, and on the day before colonoscopy at 12 noon, drink the first packet of Pico-Salax in 8oz water, and the second packet of Pico-Salax in 8oz of water at 8PM. Day of colonoscopy, drink clear fluids. If arrival for colonoscopy is at or after 10AM: 2 tablets Dulcolax at 8PM three days before colonoscopy, 2 tablets Dulcolax at 8PM two days before colonoscopy, and on the day before colonoscopy at 8PM, drink the first packet of Pico-Salax in 8oz water. Day of colonoscopy, drink the second packet of Pico-Salax in 8oz water five hours before you are to arrive at the Centre.

    Also known as: Pico-Salax or Magnesium Citrate, Bisacodyl is also known as Dulcolax.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Quality of Bowel Cleanliness

    Ottawa bowel Prep scale will be done by the Dr. to assess the quality of bowel cleanliness. The right, mid and rectosigmoid colon are each rated on a 5-point scale (0-4). Also, a complete 3-point rating for overall colonic fluid is assessed giving an overall score range of 0-14. An excellent preparation would score 0-1; a good preparation, 2-4; while scores \>4 would indicate progressively worsening bowel preparations. A completely unprepared colon would score 11-14, depending on the amount of fluid. A simplified overall cleanliness score will be completed and compared to the Ottawa scale.

    Time frame: Scales provided to physician at time of colonoscopy, and filled out and collected after procedure is completed (1 hour time). Questionnaires are manually entered by an assistant into the study database on the same day as collection.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Patient Satisfaction with preparation

    Patients will be given an anonymous tolerability questionnaire, which has been modified from a previously used questionnaire, to be completed once their bowel preparation is finished and before coming to the Centre for the colonoscopy. The tool asks questions of patient satisfaction with preparation, ease or difficulty of completing satisfaction, and side effects of the preparation method used.

    Time frame: Questionnaire given on day of pre-screen and collected on day of colonoscopy, approximately 3 weeks.Patients are not followed or contacted past the day of colonoscopy.

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Study locations

2 sites
  • Foranzi & MacPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre, Alberta Health Services
    Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
  • Foranzi & MacPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre
    Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
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References and documents

Publications

  • Rostom A, Dube C, Bishay K, Antonova L, Heitman SJ, Hilsden R. A randomized clinical prospective trial comparing split-dose picosulfate/ magnesium citrate and polyethylene glycol for colonoscopy preparation. PLoS One. 2019 Mar 28;14(3):e0211136. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211136. eCollection 2019. PubMed 30921345 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 31, 2012, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01415687
Lead sponsor
University of Calgary
Responsible party
Alaa Rostom (MD MSc FRCPC, University of Calgary) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 12, 2011
Start date
May 2011
Primary completion
Dec 2011
Completion
Dec 2011
Last update
May 31, 2012

Study contacts

Alaa Rostom, MD
principal investigator · University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in May 2012. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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