Safety and efficacy of carbon dioxide versus air insufflations during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Abstract

Objective To investigate the safety,efficacy of CO2 insufflations during ERCP.Methods One hundred and forty eligible patients who underwent ERCP in Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command from January to December 2012 were randomized according to random digits in a double blind manner to receive either CO2 insufflations or air insufflations (65 vs 75).The patient's experience of abdominal pain and distension at 1 h,2 h,6 h and 24 h post-ERCP were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS).The heart rates,blood pressure,SpO2,PaCO2 were recorded before,during,after ERCP,and 24 h after the examination.Plain abdominal radiographic images were collected to show abdominal distention before and after ERCP,waist circumference,operative time,recovery time,intraoperative and post-ERCP complications were also determined.Results Post-ERCP the VAS of abdominal pain at 3 h was (4.08 ± 1.36) in CO2 group,which was significantly lower than that in air group [(4.59 ± 1.66),P ＜ 0.01].The VAS of abdominal distension at 1 h,3 h,6 h after ERCP were(1.78 ± 1.90),(0.72 ± 1.15),(0.12 ±0.45),which were significantly lower than those in air group [(3.53 ± 2.71),(2.51 ± 2.04),(0.84 ± 1.24),P ＜ 0.05] ; the intraoperative SpO2 was (93.29 ± 1.40)％,which was significantly lower than that in air group [(93.52 ± 1.06) ％,P ＜ 0.01].The waist circumference at 1 h after ERCP increased by (2.48 ± 1.33)cm,which was significantly lower than that in air group [(3.56 ± 2.13) cm,P =0.00).Recovery time was (11.2 ± 2.5) rain in CO2 group,which was significantly longer than that in air group [(9.7 ± 1.7) min,P =0.00].And the difference between the two groups was statistically significant.The plain abdominal radiographic images showed the degree of bowel distension was severer in air group than that in CO2 group (P =0.04).Conclusions CO2 insufflations are safe and efficacy during ERCP.CO2 can better alleviate abdominal pain and distension than air. Key words: Cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde; Carbon dioxide; Abdominal pain; Abdominal distension