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. 2009 Mar 28;15(12):1475-9.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1475.

Carbon dioxide for gut distension during digestive endoscopy: technique and practice survey

Filip Janssens  1 , Jacques Deviere, Pierre Eisendrath, Jean-Marc Dumonceau
Affiliations

Carbon dioxide for gut distension during digestive endoscopy: technique and practice survey

Filip Janssens et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To assess the adoption of Carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation by endoscopists from various European countries, and its determinants.

Methods: A survey was distributed to 580 endoscopists attending a live course on digestive endoscopy.

Results: The response rate was 24.5%. Fewer than half the respondents (66/142, 46.5%) were aware of the fact that room air can be replaced by CO2 for gut distension during endoscopy, and 4.2% of respondents were actually using CO2 as the insufflation agent. Endoscopists aware of the possibility of CO2 insufflation mentioned technical difficulties in implementing the system and the absence of significant advantages of CO2 in comparison with room air as barriers to adoption in daily practice (84% and 49% of answers, respectively; two answers were permitted for this item).

Conclusion: Based on this survey, adoption of CO2 insufflation during endoscopy seems to remain relatively exceptional. A majority of endoscopists were not aware of this possibility, while others were not aware of recent technical developments that facilitate CO2 implementation in an endoscopy suite.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentages of correct answers (yes/no choice; correct answer was yes in all cases) to the following questions. aCO2 insufflation is not advised in patients with severe pulmonary diseases; bAbout 20% of patients still have pain 6 h after colonoscopy using air insufflation; cAbout 20% of patients need ≥ 2 d before they are able to return to their normal activities after screening colonoscopy; dCompared to air, CO2 colonoscopy decreases the risk of bowel explosion; eCompared to air, CO2 insufflation is better for ERCP and double balloon enteroscopy DBE.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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