Abstract:Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of carbon dioxide as insufflation gas in the endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of the colorectal tumors.Methods 42 patients receiving ESD for the colorectal tumors were selected and randomly divided into air group (21 cases) and CO2 group (21 cases). Air and CO2 were used to insufflation gas, and the success rate, operation time, bleeding, perforation and other complications of ESD were recorded in each group. Changes of heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and transcutaneous carbon dioxide resolution partial pressure (PetCO2) preoperation, intraoperation and postoperation were recorded. VAS scales were used to assess the degree of abdominal pain in patients during the operation (reaching the ileocecal part), at the end of the operation, and 1, 6, and 24 h after the operation.Results The abdominal pain score of the CO2 group was significantly lower than that in air group at different time points (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in HR, MAP, SpO2 , PetCO2 and the complication rate between the two groups before, during and after operation (P > 0.05).Conclusion CO2 can replace air as a safe insufflation gas in ESD for the colorectal tumors, and can significantly reduce abdominal discomfort.