The technique of abdominal pressure in total colonoscopy

Total colonoscopy can be difficult. It is recognized that abdominal pressure can be helpful in the performance of colonoscopy by externally splinting the endoscope to prevent loop formation. Properly applied abdominal pressure can limit patient discomfort and shorten examination time. Various techniques for abdominal pressure were studied in 201 consecutive patients who had total colonoscopy to the cecum. Abdominal pressure or change of body position was used 619 times in 165 patients (82%), with an average of 3.75 pressure applications per colonoscopy, most lasting less than 30 sec. Pressure was most commonly used when the endoscope tip was at the splenic flexure. Non-specific pressure to a region of the abdomen where looping developed, endoscopically observed specific pressure near the tip, and position change were used in a stepwise manner. Non-specific pressure was more successful in the left (78%) than in the right (47%) colon (p less than 0.0005). As intubation progressed left to right, specific pressure became more useful. When abdominal pressure was not useful, a change in patient position from left lateral to supine was successful in advancing the endoscope tip in 68% of patients.