Warm Water for Unsedated Colonoscopy

Warm Water Irrigation Versus Standard Air Insufflation for Unsedated Colonoscopy: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Unsedated colonoscopy is characterized by lower costs, recovery time and incidence of drug-related side effects, although it may be painful for the patient. Based on recent reports, the investigators designed this randomized controlled trial hypothesizing that the use of water irrigation versus air insufflation during the insertion phase of colonoscopy might increase the global tolerability of the examination and the proportion of patients undergoing complete colonoscopy without sedation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult outpatients willing to undergo colonoscopy without routine initial sedation

Exclusion Criteria:

• refuse to initiate colonoscopy without routine sedation
• inadequate bowel preparation
• incapacity to give informed consent