Carbon dioxide insufflation attenuates parietal blood flow obstruction in distended colon

Abstract Background  Bowel distention after colonoscopy has been considered as a cause of blood flow disturbance. Carbon dioxide (CO2), with its higher absorbability and vasodilating effect, may reduce parietal blood flow disturbance of distended colon when used for intraluminal insufflation instead of air. The purpose of this study was to assess parietal blood flow of the colon distended with intraluminal air/CO2 insufflation.