Comfort and safety of carbon dioxide-insufflating colonoscopy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the comfort and safety of carbon dioxide-insufflating colonoscopy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight IBS patients were included in this study. One hundred and thirty healthy volunteers who underwent physical examination in the outpatient department in the same period were used as controls. Both IBS patients and healthy controls were randomized into two groups to receive air and CO2 insufflation, respectively. Patients' symptoms such as distension and pain were scored and compared using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS). PETCO2 was measured immediately before the examination, when the endoscope reached the cecum, immediately, 5 and 15 min after the examination. RESULTS: The mean severity of pain before the examination was higher in the IBS group than in the control group. For patients with IBS, the severity of symptoms was reduced earlier in the CO2 group. There was no rise in the mean PETCO2 during and after colonoscopy in both groups. CONCLUSION: CO2 insufflation in colonoscopy is safe and effective for IBS patients. © 2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved.