Effect of Carbon Dioxide Insufflation and Appendix on the Restoration of Intestinal Microecology After Colonoscopy.

Usually, gastroenteroscopy requires gas insufflation to expand the lumen to facilitate endoscopic insertion and detailed observation of the mucosa. In the past, the use of air as an insufflation gas in endoscopic operations was simple and inexpensive, but because its main component was nitrogen, it was difficult to be absorbed by the gastrointestinal mucosa. Therefore, the endoscopist often needs to fully aspirate the gas when the procedure is completed. However, studies have shown that about 50% of patients still complain of abdominal pain after colonoscopy, and 12% of patients still have severe abdominal pain even after 24 hours. In contrast, carbon dioxide (CO2) has been used in endoscopy of the digestive tract in recent years because it can be rapidly absorbed by the gastrointestinal mucosa, and has attracted the attention of endoscopists.

The gastrointestinal mucosa absorbs CO2 at a rate 160 times faster than nitrogen. Because of this property, many people consider replacing air in endoscopic operations. Its potential value was first demonstrated in animal tests: the recovery time of intestinal lumen dilation and increased intraluminal pressure was significantly shortened after intestinal lumen injection of CO2 in rats. Meta-analysis showed no significant difference in safety, gas volume, or cecal intubation rate between the two groups for CO2 insufflation during colonoscopy, but less postoperative abdominal pain, abdominal distention, and less postoperative gastrointestinal exhaust in the CO2 group. The low postoperative pain score and low increase in abdominal circumference may be due to the rapid absorption of CO2 by the gastrointestinal mucosa, suggesting that residual gas after colonoscopy is the main cause of abdominal pain. CO2 is a non-flammable gas that is safe for electroresection and has been widely used in laparoscopic surgery. For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who require endoscopy, it is worth exploring whether the use of CO2 in endoscopy causes CO2 retention. In one study of 77 endoscopic participants with obstructive ventilation dysfunction and 308 endoscopic participants without concomitant obstructive ventilation dysfunction, there was no difference in end-tidal volume CO2 between the two groups, and the peak tidal volume CO2 peak was less than 60 mmHg in both groups, suggesting that endoscopic use of CO2 is still safe for people with concomitant obstructive ventilation dysfunction.

The current study has found that the intestinal preparation of the colonoscopy, as well as the colonoscopy operation itself, has a certain impact on the intestinal microbiome, although this effect can be partially recovered over a period of time, but the current study has found that this change may also be permanent, but whether it will cause long-term metabolic, immune or clinical changes in the host is unknown. Compared with conventional air injection, CO2 may change less about the hypoxic environment of the intestine, thereby reducing the impact on the normal intestinal microbiome.

Based on this hypothesis, the investigators will conduct randomized, controlled experiments to investigate the effects of conventional air and CO2 insufflation on the intestinal microbiome and metabolites.

In addition, some studies have called the appendix a "reservoir" of gut microbes. First, the mucosal flora of the appendix is similar to the rest of the colon; Secondly, the fecal microbiota composition of mice changed after appendectomy. The appendix preserves a small amount of intestinal bacteria as "seeds", once the intestinal flora is imbalanced, the "seed bank" will be used for cultivation, when the appendix is removed, it is equivalent to the "seed bank" is destroyed, so once the intestinal flora is imbalanced, there may be a delay in the recovery of the intestinal microecology.

Based on this hypothesis, the investigators will conduct controlled experiments to compare the intestinal microbiome recovery after colonoscopy in healthy people and people after appendectomy, and explore the impact of appendix on intestinal microbiome recovery.

This study was a single-center study, and 20 cases were initially included in the control group, CO2 group and after appendectomy group.