Complications of Colonoscopy

Does Manual Abdominal Pressure During Colonoscopy Put Endoscopy Staff and Patients at Risk? Experiences of Endoscopy Nurses and Technicians

“…The average cost per postcolonoscopy ED visit is estimated at $6,732, and increasingly these visits are not reimbursed by payers. Respondents' attribution of postprocedural pain from the use of manual repositioning and pressure are in line with findings from previous case reviews and observational studies ( Makker et al, 2021 ; Park et al, 2016 ; Sato, Fujinuma, & Sakai, 2006 ; Sherid et al, 2013 ). Therefore, it is reasonable to question whether these techniques contribute to patients returning to the ED following colonoscopy.…”

“…Further, manual pressure and repositioning are both indirectly and directly associated with patient complications from colonoscopy. Indirectly, manual techniques are used to address looping; looping is associated with complications that range in severity from minor postprocedural pain to colonic perforation ( Sherid, Samo, & Sulaim, 2013 ). A 2016 study found that the strongest predictor of postcolonoscopy patient pain was use of manual pressure; patients who received manual pressure were more than twice as likely to report moderate-to-severe postprocedure pain ( Park et al, 2016 ).…”

Transmural Colonic Infarction after Routine Colonoscopy in a Young Patient without Risk Factors

“…Nowadays, colonoscopy is one of the most widely used procedures in medical practice for the diagnosis and treatment of many benign and malignant diseases of the colorectal tract as well as the reference procedure for screening and surveillance of colorectal cancer [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. As all endoscopic procedures, it is not without risks, and there are many medical and surgical complications that can follow such a procedure [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Nowadays, colonoscopy is one of the most widely used procedures in medical practice for the diagnosis and treatment of many benign and malignant diseases of the colorectal tract as well as the reference procedure for screening and surveillance of colorectal cancer [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. As all endoscopic procedures, it is not without risks, and there are many medical and surgical complications that can follow such a procedure [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Recent data published by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy reveals that 33% of the patients present with transient and minor gastrointestinal symptoms after colonoscopy (swelling, discomfort or abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, subcutaneous emphysema, self-limiting bleeding), while major complications are very rare (cardiopulmonary complications, colonic perforation, hemorrhage, postpolipectomy electrocoagulation syndrome, infection, explosion, hematoma or splenic rupture, acute appendicitis, acute diverticulitis, tearing of the mesenteric vessels with intra-abdominal hemorrhage, chemical colitis and other symptoms associated with specific colonoscopic operations), and more than 85% of these are associated with colonoscopy with polypectomy [ 1 ].…”

“…The overall rate of adverse events is estimated to be about 2.8 per 1,000 procedures, while complications requiring hospitalization are about 1.9 per 1,000 colonoscopies. Mortality from all causes and colonoscopy-specific mortality are estimated to be 0.07 and 0.007%, respectively [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ].…”