Water exchange trumps air insufflation for colonoscopy patient comfort

A number of different trials have demonstrated that water exchange and CO2 insufflation are less painful for colonoscope insertion than air insufflation, according to a Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News report.

Advertisement

Water-assisted and water exchange colonoscopy may be particularly helpful for patient comfort in cases of unsedated colonoscopy.

“Unsedated colonoscopy is feasible but may be painful. Sedation increases costs, complications and may be impractical for patients,” said one of the study’s lead authors Kjetil Garborg, MD, of Sorlandet Hospital HF in Kristiansand, Norway, according to the report.

More articles on gastroenterology:
9 gastroenterologists in the news
Should ADR benchmarks be higher?
CRC test ColoMarker receives CE mark

Advertisement

Next Up in GI & Endoscopy

  • While gastroenterology has historically been a male-dominated specialty, a growing number of women are driving innovation across clinical care, research…

  • Gastroenterologists face rising clinical and operational obstacles as the GI diseases become more prevalent in the U.S. population and reimbursement…

Advertisement

Comments are closed.