Dr. Amato noted that 93% of the patients treated with carbon dioxide were willing to repeat the procedure vs. 90% of water-air patients and 80% of all-air patients. The differences were significant for carbon dioxide vs. all-air (P = .03) and for water-air vs. all-air (P = .02), said Dr. Amato, who practices at Valduce Hospital in Como, Italy.
Adenoma detection rates for the three groups were similar at 30.4%, 39%, and 37%.
As for how often American clinicians are using water during colonoscopies, session cochair Dr. Walter Coyle of the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, Calif., said in an interview, "I suspect it’s increasing." He estimated that only 10% of colonoscopists use water throughout a procedure.
Dr. Coyle said his use of water has steadily increased and that his hybrid technique incorporates large amounts of water during insertion, then switches to a combination of air and water when the colonoscope approaches the transverse and ascending colon.
Dr. Leung cautioned during his presentation, however, that switching from water to air during a procedure can simplify the identification of the lumen but leave behind dirty water that can impair the view during withdrawal.
Dr. Coyle said this has not been a problem, citing a detection rate of 60%.
Dr. Leung and his coauthor Dr. Francisco C. Ramirez and Dr. Amato and his coauthors reported no conflict of interest. Dr. Coyle reported a financial relationship with Takeda Pharmaceutical.