Endoscopy 2014; 46(03): 212-218
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1353604
Original article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A two-center randomized controlled trial of water-aided colonoscopy versus air insufflation colonoscopy

Sergio Cadoni
1   Digestive Endoscopy Unit, S. Barbara Hospital, Iglesias, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Italy
,
Paolo Gallittu
1   Digestive Endoscopy Unit, S. Barbara Hospital, Iglesias, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Italy
,
Stefano Sanna
2   Digestive Endoscopy Unit, N. S. di Bonaria Hospital, San Gavino Monreale, Villacidro-Sanluri Province, Italy
,
Viviana Fanari
2   Digestive Endoscopy Unit, N. S. di Bonaria Hospital, San Gavino Monreale, Villacidro-Sanluri Province, Italy
,
Maria L. Porcedda
2   Digestive Endoscopy Unit, N. S. di Bonaria Hospital, San Gavino Monreale, Villacidro-Sanluri Province, Italy
,
Matteo Erriu
3   Department of Surgery, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Cagliari Province, Italy
,
Felix W. Leung
4   Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California, USA
5   David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

submitted 11. März 2013

accepted after revision 18. September 2013

Publikationsdatum:
11. November 2013 (online)

Background and study aim: Water-aided colonoscopy includes water immersion and water exchange. Several small single-center studies have suggested that the use of water rather than air insufflation during colonoscopy reduces pain on insertion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether water-aided colonoscopy is less painful than air insufflation in a large cohort of patients.

Patients and methods: This was a two-center, randomized controlled trial. Consecutive patients who agreed to start colonoscopy without premedication were included. Sedation was administered on demand. Water-aided colonoscopy was performed using water immersion in the early phase of the study, and subsequently water exchange was used. The primary endpoint was cecal intubation with pain scores of ≤ 2 and sedation with no or ≤ 2 mg midazolam. Secondary outcomes were pain score at discharge, cecal intubation rate and time, and adenoma detection rate (ADR).

Results: A total of 672 patients were randomized to water exchange (n = 338) or air insufflation (n = 334). The primary endpoint was achieved in more patients in the water exchange group (83.8 % vs. 62 %; P < 0.0005). On-demand sedation was also required less (11.5 % vs. 26.0 %; P < 0.0005) and mean pain score was lower (1.3 vs. 2.3; P < 0.0005) in the water exchange group. The cecal intubation rates were comparable. Water exchange had a significantly higher overall ADR (25.8 % vs. 19.1 %; P = 0.041), proximal ADR (10.1 % vs. 4.8 %; P = 0.014), and proximal < 10 mm ADR (7.7 % vs. 3.9 %; P = 0.046); proximal ADR was also higher in screening-only patients in the water exchange group (18.9 % vs. 7.4 %; P  = 0.015). No detailed analysis was possible for the air insufflation vs. water immersion comparison.

Conclusion: The current results confirmed that water exchange minimized the requirement for sedation and increased the ADR.

 
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