NCT01633333

Water Exchange Versus Carbon Dioxide for Colonoscopy

Water Exchange Versus Carbon Dioxide Insufflation to Improve Colonoscopy Screening - a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 473 (actual)
• Sponsor: Sorlandet Hospital HF · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 50 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Colonoscopy is commonly used in screening for colorectal cancer. A refined technique of colonoscopy involving the use of water as the sole modality to aid colonoscope insertion, water exchange, has been described in recent research papers to decrease patient discomfort and pain, and to reduce the need for sedation during colonoscopy when compared with standard air insufflation. Carbon dioxide insufflation has been described to decrease patient discomfort after colonoscopy. No randomized trial has so far compared the use of water exchange to carbon dioxide insufflation. Our hypothesis is that water exchange inflicts less discomfort to patients undergoing colonoscopy than carbon dioxide insufflation. Patients undergoing screening colonoscopy in two centers in Norway, one center in Poland and one center in The Netherlands will be enrolled and randomized to examination of either of the two methods.

Detailed description

Single blinded randomized controlled trial.

Conditions

• Colorectal Cancer
• Colorectal Adenomas
• Colorectal Polyps
• Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Water exchange colonoscopy	Water is infused and suctioned in a systematic fashion to obtain luminal view and for cleansing of the colon to facilitate colonoscope insertion. The carbon dioxide pump is turned off, only to be turned on during withdrawal from the cecum.
OTHER	Carbon dioxide insufflation	Carbon dioxide insufflation to obtain luminal view to facilitate colonoscope insertion, considered to be standard procedure.

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-06-01
• Primary completion: 2013-12-01
• Completion: 2013-12-01
• First posted: 2012-07-04
• Last updated: 2014-02-12

Locations

3 sites across 2 countries: Norway, Poland