title: Total Colonic Decompression After Colonoscopy Decreases Postcolonoscopy Abdominal Pain: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether total colonic decompression after colonoscopy decreased postcolonoscopy abdominal pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Abdominal pain that occurs after a colonoscopy may cause significant discomfort in some patients, and residual bowel gas is thought to be a key contributor to this abdominal pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Asymptomatic 300 patients who underwent colonoscopy under sedation were randomized to either the decompression group or the control group. Initial colonoscopic procedure was performed uniformly in both the groups. After the colonoscopy examination was completed, the colonoscope was reinserted into the cecum, and the intraluminal air was aspirated during withdrawal in the decompression group. Abdominal pain was assessed before discharge and 24 to 48 hours after colonoscopy using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 groups were similar with regard to clinical, demographic, and procedural factors. Among 288 patients, the incidence of abdominal pain (VAS≥1) after colonoscopy was 38 (26.6%) of 143 patients in the decompression group and 95 (65.5%) of 145 patients in the control group (VAS 0.68±1.35 vs. 2.14±2.15, P<0.001). There was an 86.1% reduction rate of abdominal pain by colonic decompression, based on multivariate analysis (odds ratio 0.139 [95% confidence interval, 0.077-0.250], P<0.001). Furthermore, independent factors for abdominal pain included female gender and total duration of procedure >800 seconds. There were no reinsertion-related complications in the decompression group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total colonic decompression after colonoscopy has a beneficial effect and can reduce postcolonoscopy abdominal pain without additional complications.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Gyeonggi-do †Department of Internal Medicine, Digestive Disease Center, Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Won Joong
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Jin Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A Ra
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ban Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism*; D020685:Colonoscopes; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors