Ileal intubation is not associated with higher detection rate of right-sided conventional adenomas and serrated polyps compared to cecal intubation after adjustment for overall adenoma detection rate

What are the priority quality indicators for colonoscopy in real-world clinical practice?

Colonoscopy is widely used as a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tool. The effectiveness of a screening colonoscopy is associated with a decreased risk of CRC. However, colonoscopy is an operator-dependent procedure, and endoscopists' quality performance varies widely. This article reviewed the priority metrics and practices that contribute to high-quality screening colonoscopy in real-world clinical practice. With growing evidence, quality indicators have been subject to intense research and associated with reducing postcolonoscopy CRC incidence and mortality. Some quality metrics can reflect an endoscopy unit-based practice (i.e. quality of bowel preparation and withdrawal time). Other quality indicators primarily reflect individuals' skill and knowledge (i.e. cecal intubation rate, adenoma detection rate, and appropriately assigned follow-up colonoscopy interval). Measurement and improvement of priority quality indicators for colonoscopy should be made at both the endoscopist and unit levels. Substantial evidence supports the impact of high-quality colonoscopy in reducing the incidence of postcolonoscopy CRC.

Evaluating the Safety and Quality of Diagnostic Colonoscopies Performed by General Surgeons: A Retrospective Study

Introduction Colonoscopy, which is a challenging procedure and requires adequate time to master the skill, is the procedure of choice to visualize colonic mucosa to rule out many colonic pathologies. There is a dearth of published information from real clinical experiences regarding successful procedures and limitations. The end point of colonoscopy is the visualization of the cecal pole by intubating the cecum. Many Europeans and English health organizations recommend that the procedure should have a completion rate of around or above 90%. Gut preparation is an important determinant for a successful procedure and obviates the need for further invasive and/or expensive procedures such as imaging. The majority of colonoscopies are being performed by gastroenterologists (GI) throughout the world, and the role of a surgeon as an endoscopist is in debate. Before this study, neither a retrospective nor a prospective evaluation of the general surgeon's (GS) endoscopy's quality and safety had been evaluated in our institution. Material and method This retrospective observational study was carried out from 1 January 2022 to 31 August 2022 in the Department of Surgery at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, to evaluate colonoscopy completion rates, reason for failure, and complications in terms of bleeding and perforation. All patients undergoing lower gastrointestinal endoscopy (LGiE), both elective and emergency, were included. Patients under 15 years of age and patients known to be hepatitis B-positive or hepatitis C-positive were excluded from the study. All relevant data were entered into a data sheet. Qualitative variables such as gender, cecal intubation, adjusted cecal intubation, gut preparation, reasons for failed colonoscopy, analgesia use, and complications (bleeding and perforation) were calculated as frequency and percentage. Quantitative data such as age and pain score were reported as mean and standard deviation (SD). Details obtained were tabulated and analyzed via the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY). Results A total of 57 patient data were collected; 35.1% (n=20) were female, and 64.9% (n=37) were males. The cecal intubation rate (CIR) was 49.1% (n=28), and the adjusted rate was 71.9%, excluding incompleteness due to mass obstructing lumen, 8.8% (n=5); planned left colonoscopy, 7% (n=4); sigmoidoscopy, 3.5% (n=2); distal stoma scope, 1.8% (n=1); and colonic stricture, 1.8% (n=1). The prevalent reason for failed colonoscopy was inadequate gut preparation (15.8% {n=9}). Other reasons include patient discomfort, 3.5% (n=2); looping of scope, 7% (n=4); and acute colonic angulation, 1.8% (n=1). No complications were recorded. Conclusion This study shows that colonoscopy can be done by general surgeons safely and effectively with adequate training. High rates of cecal intubation emerge during colonoscopies performed under deep sedation and by skilled colonoscopists. Adequate bowel preparatory regimen is compulsory for quality procedure.

Clinical Yield of Ileal Intubation During Screening Colonoscopy

Objectives

Ileal intubation during screening colonoscopy can serve as supportive evidence of complete examination. However, most studies conducted in Western countries showed a limited value of ileal inspection in asymptomatic patients undergoing colonoscopy. Therefore, our aim is to determine the clinical yield of routine ileal examination during the performance of screening colonoscopy in a cohort of patients in the Middle East and identify factors associated with successful ileal intubation in this setting.

Methods

A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of all screening colonoscopies was performed at a single endoscopy unit. The patients were divided into two groups; group A included patients in whom the extent of examination was the cecum and group B comprised of those who underwent ileal intubation as well. We summarized the endoscopic and pathological findings of the ileoscopic examinations and their clinical impact. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare both groups and to identify factors predictive of ileal intubation in the setting of screening colonoscopy. 

Results

Two thousand four hundred seventy-three unique completed screening colonoscopies were analyzed (group A=1465 patients, group B=1008 patients). Overall Ileal intubation rate was 40.8%. Of the patients in group B, 3.7% were noted to have findings on ileoscopy, which were deemed to be clinically significant in almost half (1.8% overall). Univariate analysis identified the following factors as being predictive of ileal intubation during screening colonoscopy: patients' age (51.7 vs. 53.5 years, p<0.001), short cecal insertion time, endoscopists' specialty (gastroenterology 42.3% vs. surgery 24.3%, p<0.001), type of colonoscope (pediatric 47.1% vs. adult 33.5% colonoscope, p<0.001), and quality of preparation in the right colon (poor vs. adequate/good : (25.6% vs. 42.5%, p<0.001). Mixed-effects logistic regression identified patients' age, endoscopist specialty, quality of right colon preparation, and cases with short insertion time as independent variables predicting ileal intubation during SC

Conclusion

The clinical yield of routine ileal intubation during screening colonoscopy is low. Ileal intubation during screening colonoscopy in our cohort was more likely in younger patients with adequate/good right colon preparation and when the exam is performed by a gastroenterologist, in cases with short insertion time. Prospective studies are needed to assess our research findings and to determine the clinical value of routinely intubating terminal ileum during screening colonoscopy in the population of the Middle East.