A water-soluble, ginger-based solution that clears bubbles from the gastrointestinal tract during GI procedures allows endoscopists to fully visualize the GI tract during colonoscopies and esophagogastroduodenoscopies, according to a study.
Although simethicone is the most common defoaming solution used to enhance GI tract visibility, primary investigator Teri S. Mallard, BSN, RN, noted that its use is not recommended because it prevents the evaporation of moisture, creating a haven for bacterial growth and biofilm formation. The findings show that options other than simethicone are viable, said Ms. Mallard, the nurse manager for perianesthesia and endoscopy at Providence Swedish Medical Center, in Seattle. “My hope is that endoscopists move away from simethicone,” she told GEN Priority Report.