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Is Carbon Dioxide Insufflation During Endoscopy in Children as Safe and as Effective as We Think?
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Is Carbon Dioxide Insufflation During Endoscopy in Children as Safe and as Effective as We Think?

Chinenye R. Dike, Riad Rahhal and Warren P. Bishop
Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, Vol.71(2), pp.211-215
08/01/2020
DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000002724
PMID: 32304555
url
https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000002724View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Objectives:Distension of the gastrointestinal lumen is crucial for visualization and advancement during endoscopic procedures. An increasing number of pediatric centers now use carbon dioxide (CO2) preferentially over air as many adult studies and a few pediatric studies have concluded that CO2 is better tolerated than air, especially for colonoscopy.Aims:The aim of the study was to determine if CO2 is as safe and as effective as air and if it reduces abdominal discomfort and distension in children undergoing upper endoscopy and colonoscopy.Methods:Double blinded, prospective, randomized clinical study. Patient- and nursing-reported outcomes of pain and distension were recorded. End tidal CO2 (EtCO2) was monitored continuously with a CO2-sampling nasal cannula for patients undergoing procedural sedation and via the endotracheal tube for those who were intubated.Results:One hundred seventy-eight patients with 180 procedures were enrolled, 91 procedures were randomized to receive CO2, and 89 to air. Groups did not differ significantly with respect to nursing-assessed abdominal discomfort, change in girth from baseline, or endoscopist-perceived ease of inflation. Use of CO2 was associated with transient spikes in the EtCO2 (>= 60mmHg) in a significant number of patients during sedated upper endoscopy without endotracheal intubation. There was a reduction of bloating and flatulence for all procedures in the CO2 group.Conclusions:The benefits of using CO2 for insufflation were minimal in our patients. The observed transient elevations of EtCO2 during sedated upper endoscopy raise concerns of possible systemic hypercarbia. The wisdom of its routine use for all pediatric endoscopic procedures is questioned.
Pediatrics Gastroenterology & Hepatology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Nutrition & Dietetics Science & Technology

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