Colonoscope length and procedure efficiency

Abstract

Although the length of the intermediate instrument rarely compromises colonoscopy, it offers no significant advantage over the long scope for routine procedures.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Comparison on Time and Rate of Cecal and Termianl Ileal Intubation according to Adult-Colonoscope Length: Intermediate versus Long

“…Controversy exists concerning the benefits of ILAC in CIT. Dickey and Garrett (18) reported that there were no differences in the CIR and CIT with respect to the length of colonoscope used. However, although the difference was not statistically significant, there was a trend toward a shorter CIT in the ILAC group (ILAC group, 7.73 min vs LLAC group, 8.11 min; P = 0.44).…”

“…In the clinical setting, most colonoscopists may recognize that colonoscope length may influence the completion rate of intubation of the terminal ileum. Although there have been no studies directly investigating the association between the length of colonoscope and terminal ileal intubation, previous studies have found plenty of evidence that long scopes offer the highest chance of successful cecal intubation (17, 18, 21, 22, 26). In this study, the longer scope also appeared to offer a higher success rate for terminal ileal intubation.…”

“…Hence, future studies will be necessary to assess whether or not the results of this study could be replicated with other colonoscopists, including training colonoscopists. Despite these limitations, our study has the strength of being the study to evaluate the association between colonoscopic examination parameters and the length of adult colonoscopies, which was assessed by randomization and not by the method of alternation of colonoscopes as done in previous studies (18, 26). Additionally, we tried to control other factors affecting examination parameters.…”

Long pediatric colonoscope versus intermediate length adult colonoscope for colonoscopy

“…Two previous studies 9, 10 have evaluated the length of colonoscope on procedure efficiency. Barthel No one colonoscope is ideal for all patients, and different subgroups of patients may require different colonoscopes.…”

“…9 In contrast, Dickey found that there was no difference in completion rates or cecal intubation times when comparing scopes of two different lengths. 10 A long pediatric colonoscope is longer and thinner than an intermediate length adult colonoscope. We hypothesized the pediatric colonoscope might be less efficient because of these two features.…”