Patients' Description of Rectal Effluents Help Predict the Quality of Colonoscopy Preparation

Abstract Introduction Evaluation of patients' reports of characteristics of rectal effluents as a predictor of the quality of the colonoscopy preparation assessed by the endoscopist. Methods A total of 270 patients, aged 18 or older, were consecutively included to perform an outpatient colonoscopy, for a period of 8 months. Demographic and clinical data were collected and evaluated, as well as the rectal effluents' characteristics and data concerning the colonoscopy. The quality of bowel preparation was evaluated by employing the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale. The association between rectal effluents and the quality of preparation was verified by binary logistic regression. Results Of the 270 patients, 67.3% were female, with a mean age of 59.69 ± 12.48 years. Reports of dark and thick, dark orange, or brown and thick effluents produced a higher likelihood of inadequate preparation (OR 4.26, CI 95% 1.51; 11.14, p = 0.004). Conclusions Reports of dark and thick, dark orange, or brown and thick rectal effluents are predictors of inadequate preparation in the endoscopist assessment.