My kitchen reno is temporarily on hold (a few key things are missing\u2014like doorknobs and radiators\u2014but the construction crew is digging basements for new houses before winter hits, so I must be patient).<\/p>\n
The good news: Today, I get to discuss two true heroes in the medical world\u2014Dr. Emmanuel Ben-Soussan and Dr. Michel Antonietti. These brave men have done what no one else dared to do\u2014they\u2019ve solved the mystery of why colons explode.<\/p>\n
Now, doctors have known about exploding colons for years\u2014it\u2019s a rare, but unfortunate complication that occurs during colonoscopies. Ben-Soussan and Antonietti decided to get to the bottom of this\u2014they decided to find out why<\/em> some colons explode, plus how to avoid this hair-raising disaster.<\/p>\n Their research\u2014which, if I\u2019m reading these studies correctly, involved siphoning gas out of people\u2019s colons\u2014determined that an explosion is imminent if you have:<\/p>\n a) A 5% concentration of oxygen (which is, unfortunately, provided by colonoscopy equipment) So, it turns out making a colon explode is a lot like making bread rise\u2014you need just<\/em> the right ingredients, and you need them in just<\/em> the right amounts.<\/p>\n Think internal combustion couldn\u2019t happen to you? Ben-Soussan and Antonietti\u2019s studies suggest that at least 45% of us are walking around\u2014right now\u2014with potentially explosive levels of hydrogen and methane in our colons.<\/p>\n Thankfully, these intrepid researchers decided to probe a little deeper. They decided to study how people could ensure (in their words) \u201can uneventful colonoscopy.\u201d<\/p>\n The secret? Explosive diarrhea. Yes, today\u2019s colon prep liquids are vile, but you need to chug every drop, then sit on the toilet with explosive diarrhea the day before your colonoscopy, if you want to avoid an even worse<\/em> explosion the day of the procedure. Once a colon is fully, properly and completely emptied, the levels of hydrogen and methane plunge to less than 1%<\/em>\u2014well below the amount needed for ignition, Ben-Soussan reports.<\/p>\n
\nb) A 4% concentration of methane or hydrogen gas (which your own digestive tract is happily producing right this minute), and
\nc) Heat (which colonoscopy equipment also provides)<\/p>\n