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Water infusion versus air insufflation during colonoscope insertion has been suggested to reduce patient discomfort and decrease sedation medication requirements.
Warm water is thought to further facilitate colonoscopy perhaps by decreasing colon spasm.
Dr Brent Lee from Portland, USA compared the utility of warm versus cool water infused during colonoscopic insertion by measuring patient sedation medication use, and discomfort scores between the warm and cool water groups.
The team evaluated sedation medication used, pain scores, cecal intubation rate, endoscopy times, satisfaction scores, and patient willingness to repeat procedures.
The doctors noted that there was no significant difference in sedation medication requirement during colonoscopy with the use of warm or cool water.
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| Cecal intubation rates were similar |
| Gastrointestinal Endoscopy |
There was no significant difference in patient pain scores or satisfaction scores.
Cecal intubation rates were similar.
The researchers found that there was no significant difference in cecal intubation times between the warm and cool water groups.
All patients were willing to repeat the colonoscopy by using the same method in both groups.
Dr Lee's team concludes "Water does not need to be warmed before infusion in patients undergoing sedated colonoscopies."
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