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©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2007; 13(40): 5295-5298
Published online Oct 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i40.5295
Published online Oct 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i40.5295
Colonic gas explosion during therapeutic colonoscopy with electrocautery
Spiros D Ladas, George Karamanolis, Hepatogastroenterology Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Medical School, Athens University, "Attikon" University General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Emmanuel Ben-Soussan, Clinique de l'Alma 166, rue de l' université 750007, Paris, France
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Spiros D Ladas MD, PhD, Hepatogastro-enterology Unit, 2nd Propedeutic Internal Medicine Department, "ATTIKON" General Hospital, Rimini 1, Athens 12462, Greece. sdladas@otenet.gr
Telephone: +30-210-5832087 Fax: +30-210-5326422
Received: June 26, 2007
Revised: August 10, 2007
Accepted: August 19, 2007
Published online: October 28, 2007
Revised: August 10, 2007
Accepted: August 19, 2007
Published online: October 28, 2007
Abstract
Therapeutic colonoscopy with electrocautery is widely used around the world. Adequate colonic cleansing is considered a crucial factor for the safety of this procedure. Colonic gas explosion, although rare, is one of the most frightening iatrogenic complications during colonoscopy with electrocautery. This complication is the result of an accumulation of colonic gases to explosive concentrations, but may be prevented by meticulous bowel preparation. The purpose of this review is to discuss the indications and the types of bowel preparations for therapeutic colonoscopy, and to contribute recommendations for the adequate bowel preparation for colonoscopy with electrocautery.
Keywords: Colonic gas explosion, Electrocautery, Therapeutic polypectomy, Argon plasma coagulation, Polypectomy