Safety and Efficacy of CO2 for Endoscopy

STUDY DESIGN: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Trial We intend to enroll 250 patients aged between 6 months and 21 years in a randomized, double-blind study comparing the use of air (our current routine) vs. carbon dioxide (CO2) for insufflation (inflation) of the gut during endoscopy. The primary endpoint will be abdominal girth and abdominal pain/discomfort after undergoing the endoscopy. Secondary endpoints will be indirect measures of CO2 absorption (respiratory rate and end-tidal CO2)throughout the procedure, determination whether the endoscopist's training level influences the primary endpoint,and determination if CO2 and air are equally effective for adequate intestinal visualization . Similar studies in adults have demonstrated safety and efficacy of CO2 in minimizing bloating and abdominal pain following endoscopy and show no difference in efficacy of insufflation. However, studies done to date in children have not been comprehensive in data gathering and analysis. We now have the capability to routinely use CO2 for insufflation in our new Stead Family Children's Hospital procedure unit, and wish to take this opportunity to fully document both efficacy and safety of CO2 insufflation in children undergoing our most common endoscopic procedures, including esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD, upper endoscopy,) colonoscopy, or combined upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. All patients in the study will be sedated by the anesthesia team using propofol as the primary agent. We will exclude patients who are judged to be at risk of respiratory compromise.

Informed consent will be obtained as always for the procedure itself; additional consent and/ assent (when appropriate) will be obtained for study participation. For patients or parents who opt out of the study; air will be used, as per our current routine, for insufflation. Those willing to participate in the study will be randomly assigned to either carbon dioxide or air for insufflation during their endoscopic procedure. Both the endoscopist and patient will be blinded to arm of study.

DATA COLLECTION: At baseline, routine vital signs (HR, BP, RR, oxygen saturation), end tidal CO2, and pain assessment (see below) will be documented. Abdominal girth, measured at the umbilicus, will be documented at baseline as well. The expertise level of the primary endoscopist will be noted; fellow (1st, 2nd, or 3rd year) or faculty will be recorded. A faculty gastroenterologist will be present for the entire procedure.

During the endoscopic procedure, again as per our usual routine, end-tidal CO2 will be continuously monitored and recorded in Epic by the anesthesia team. Other parameters that will be monitored and recorded continuously will include, HR, BP respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. Based on published studies, we do not anticipate any evidence of detectable CO2 absorption during the procedure, but will be prepared to unblind the study and switch to air insufflation if any concern arises during the procedure. The duration and type of procedure will be noted for all patients.

At the end of the procedure, Heart rate (HR) , Blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation, end tidal CO2, abdominal girth, and pain assessment will be documented again. "Breath to breath" analysis of the end tidal CO2 monitor tracing will be performed later, using recorded data, study by Dr. Timothy Starner (Pediatric pulmonologist). This will enable us to determine if there had been any evidence of an increased respiratory rate associated with increased CO2 absorption.

We will use the verbal scale : face, legs, activity, cry, consolability (FLACC) scale to assess pain upon arrival to recovery area. After awakening, abdominal discomfort will be assessed for children who are able to do so, and the assessment will be repeated at discharge from the facility. FLACC will be used for all children with appropriate developmental status, age 5 years and older for normal children. After discharge, the parents will complete an additional brief pain assessment at home at 4 hours after discharge. For those who had an abdominal girth increase of at least 10% from baseline, abdominal girth will be re-measured at home, at 4 hours after discharge.

We will use the non-verbal FLACC scale for children unable to verbally report pain using the visual scale.

Parents will report pain and abdominal girth data done at home by returning a pre-stamped postcard. Those who do not communicate this information will be called by a member of the research team for this information after five working days.

We hypothesize, based on adult and few pediatric studies, that post-procedure abdominal discomfort will be significantly decreased in the CO2 group, and that CO2 will be shown to be safe and effective for endoscopic insufflation.

Efficacy of insufflation will be assessed by the endoscopist immediately after the procedure using a 5-point Likert scale.