Clinical Evaluation of Water Immersion Colonoscopy Insertion Technique

VA Palo Alto Health Care System

Status: Completed

Conditions: Gastrointestinal Disease; Digestive System; Colonoscopy; Endoscopy

Treatments: Procedure: water immersion colonoscopy; Procedure: standard air colonoscopy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT00671177

Protocol10642

Details and patient eligibility

About

Recent studies indicate that infusing 300 milliliters of water (in lieu of air) into the rectum and left colon through the colonoscope as it is being inserted during a colonoscopy examination can allow easier endoscope advancement. This method may prevent stretching of the colon, and ultimately reduce pain induced during colonoscopy. Improvements in patient comfort and cooperation, may increase the efficiency and success rate of complete colonoscopy. The purpose of the study is to test the efficacy of the water immersion technique in patients colonoscopy.

Enrollment: 229 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• presentation for colonoscopy
• male
• age 18 or older

Exclusion criteria

• women
• known inflammatory bowel disease
• presentation for emergency colonoscopy
• history of partial colectomy
• chronic narcotic or benzodiazepine use

Trial design

Primary purpose: Diagnostic

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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229 participants in 2 patient groups

Water Immersion Colonoscopy

Experimental group

Description:

Water Immersion Colonoscopy

Treatment:

Procedure: water immersion colonoscopy

Standard Air Colonoscopy

Active Comparator group

Description:

Standard Air Colonoscopy

Treatment:

Procedure: standard air colonoscopy