Brief Article
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2009; 15(41): 5186-5192
Published online Nov 7, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.5186
CO2 insufflation for potentially difficult colonoscopies: Efficacy when used by less experienced colonoscopists
Toshio Uraoka, Jun Kato, Motoaki Kuriyama, Keisuke Hori, Shin Ishikawa, Keita Harada, Koji Takemoto, Sakiko Hiraoka, Hideyuki Fujita, Joichiro Horii, Yutaka Saito, Kazuhide Yamamoto
Toshio Uraoka, Department of Endoscopy, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Jun Kato, Motoaki Kuriyama, Keisuke Hori, Shin Ishikawa, Keita Harada, Koji Takemoto, Sakiko Hiraoka, Hideyuki Fujita, Joichiro Horii, Kazuhide Yamamoto, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Yutaka Saito, Division of Endoscopy, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Author contributions: Uraoka T planed this work; Uraoka T, Kato J, Kuriyama M, Harada K, Ishikawa S, Takemoto K, Hiraoka S, Fujita H and Horii J collected clinical data; Uraoka T and Kato J drafted this manuscript; Hori K performed statistical analysis; Saito Y and Yamamoto K directed this work.
Supported by The Japanese Foundation for Research and Promotion of Endoscopy (JFE)
Correspondence to: Toshio Uraoka, MD, PhD, Department of Endoscopy, Okayama University Hospital, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. turaoka@md.okayama-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-86-2357219 Fax: +81-86-2255991
Received: July 27, 2009
Revised: September 1, 2009
Accepted: September 8, 2009
Published online: November 7, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To clarify the effectiveness of CO2 insufflation in potentially difficult colonoscopy cases, particularly in relation to the experience level of colonoscopists.

METHODS: One hundred twenty potentially difficult cases were included in this study, which involved females with a low body mass index and patients with earlier abdominal and/or pelvic open surgery or previously diagnosed left-side colon diverticulosis. Patients receiving colonoscopy examinations without sedation using a pediatric variable-stiffness colonoscope were divided into two groups based on either CO2 or standard air insufflation. Both insufflation procedures were also evaluated according to the experience level of the respective colonoscopists who were divided into an experienced colonoscopist (EC) group and a less experienced colonoscopist (LEC) group. Study measurements included a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) for patient pain during and after colonoscopy examinations, in addition to insertion to the cecum and withdrawal times.

RESULTS: Examination times did not differ, however, VAS scores in the CO2 group were significantly better than in the air group (P < 0.001, two-way ANOVA) from immediately after the procedure and up to 2 h later. There were no significant differences between either insufflation method in the EC group (P = 0.29), however, VAS scores for CO2 insufflation were significantly better than air insufflation in the LEC group (P = 0.023) immediately after colonoscopies and up to 4 h afterwards.

CONCLUSION: CO2 insufflation reduced patient pain after colonoscopy in potentially difficult cases when performed by LECs.

Keywords: CO2 insufflation, Colonoscopy, Difficult colonoscopy, Experienced colonoscopist, Training