Colonoscopy using an abdominal bandage

This study evaluated usefulness of an abdominal bandage for colonoscopy which enables proper compression of the abdomen during the entire examination.

Patients undergoing colonoscopy were subjected to either traditional methods or using an abdominal bandage. Two hundred and twelve patients were divided into two groups: group A (colonoscopy using traditional methods) and group B (colonoscopy using the abdominal bandage). After the examination, each patient completed a form that assessed the degree of pain during the procedure (no pain, mild, moderate, severe).

There was no significant difference in total colonoscopy completion rate between the two groups. With regard to the degree of pain, the results for groups A and B were, respectively: no pain= 10.3% and 14.3%, mild = 29.0% and 51.4%, moderate = 48.6% and 27.6%, severe=12.1% and 6.7% (P=0.03).

The abdominal bandage decreased the degree of patient pain compared with traditional methods.