Gas explosion

A complication of colonoscopy

(From American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Guidelines)

"Explosive complications of colonoscopy are rare, but they have serious consequences. A 2007 review reported 9 cases, each resulting in colonic perforation and, in one case, death.Gas explosion can occur when combustible levels of hydrogen or methane gas are present in the colonic lumen, oxygen is present, and electrosurgical energy is used (eg, electrocautery or argon plasma coagulation). Suspected risk factors are use of nonabsorbable or incompletely absorbable carbohydrate preparations, such as mannitol, lactulose, or sorbitol, and incomplete colonic cleansing either because a sigmoidoscopy preparation was used (eg, enemas) or because the result of a colonoscopic purge preparation was inadequate. Some authors have advocated use of carbon dioxide during colonoscopy as a preventive measure."                             

Reference: 

GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 74, No. 4 : 2011

http://www.asge.org/assets/0/71542/71544/56321364-c4d8-4742-8158-55b6bef2a568.pdf