Inflationary caution in GI endoscopy.

摘要

Several previous studies assessing colonoscopy performance have suggested that the polyp detection rate is affected by instrument withdrawal time. A slow withdrawal of the colonoscope after reaching the cecum may increase the number of polyps found and excised. In the current issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Drs. Traber and Romagnuolo report the results of recording the withdrawal time on polyp detection rate. After withdrawal time became routinely recorded during endoscopy, the percentage of colonoscopies associated with polyp detection increased by 3.5% from 37.7% to 41.2%. This nonsignificant increase was mainly attributable to a higher rate of smaller nonadenomatous polyps detected. What are the clinical implications of these findings?