Abstract
Hypoxia as measured by pulse oximetry is well recognized in patients undergoing colonoscopy. A single trial of supplemental oxygen therapy has been shown to diminish the observed desaturation during colonoscopy. We further defined the role of supplemental oxygen during colonoscopy in a randomized controlled trial. Ninety-four patients undergoing routine colonoscopy were randomized to oxygen (2 L by nasal prongs) or placebo (nasal prongs only) arms. The physician and patients were blinded to which arm they were in. Sixty-four percent of patients in the placebo arm desaturated (>90% saturation) versus 29% in the treatment arm (p < 0.001). There were no complications observed in either arm. We conclude that supplemental oxygen will decrease but not prevent the incidence of arterial desaturation observed during colonoscopy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 114-116 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of clinical gastroenterology |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1992 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Colonoscopy
- Hypoxemia
- Oxygen
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gastroenterology