Significance of colonoscope length in cecal insertion time

According to a previous study, a longer insertion time was associated with inadequate bowel cleansing, advanced age, constipation, surgical history, sex, and a low body mass index. However, there are only a few studies on the association between cecal insertion time and colonoscope length (long vs intermediate).

To assess the association of colonoscope length and cecal insertion time.

Prospective comparative trial, with systematic assignment to colonoscope length.

A total of 998 colonoscopic examinations were performed by a single endoscopist, who used video colonoscopes.

Cecal insertion times and their potential covariates.

The mean (+/-SEM) age was 49.06 +/- 0.4 years, 61% were men, and the mean (+/-SEM) body mass index was 24.17 +/- 2.96. The mean (+/-SEM) cecal insertion time was 4.68 +/- 0.09 minutes. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that sex (female, P = .000), colonoscope length (long, P = .000), increasing age (P = .000), percentage of body fat (P = .006), and inadequate bowel cleansing (P = .002) were independent factors associated with a longer insertion time.

All procedures were performed by only one gastroenterologist, so the individual characteristics of colonoscopic procedures could be affected by a consequent bias.

This large, cross-sectional study identified colonoscope length as a useful factor that affected cecal insertion time.