Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 10/5/2009

Question
Hello: I just got home two hours ago and I am experiencing the exact same thing as the man below describes. I had no symptoms what-so-ever prior to the colonoscopy, and woke up sneezing. The inside of my nose is sore and it is running like a three day cold. The nurse said it could be from the oxygen.  I have had back surgery before with no side-affects. Should I stay away from oxygen delivered via nose candulas?  

Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 9/17/2009

Question
I am a 66 year old white male who underwent a colonoscopy yesterday. The test proved negative with no complications.  Prior to entering the hospital I experienced no flu or common cold symptoms.Within 20 minutes of leaving the operating room I began to experience frequent sneezing and a significant discharge of a watery, colorless fluid from my nose.  There has been no coughing or other "flu" symptoms and the tissues that I used for my nose revealed no discoloration whatsoever. This sneezing and "runny" nose has persisted for the past 20 hours and I am wondering if I was allergic to the form of anesthetic I was given for the procedure?

Answer
You should NOT stay away from oxygen (via any delivery means). What may have happened is they gave you oxygen via a nasal cannula and, if they ran at high flow rates for a long time, may have irritated the mucosal lining of your nose. Oxygen is a dry gas so rushing dry gas over a moist area could cause irritation and the other symptoms you describe.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston