Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
03:43
Structured Approach to Colonoscopy Technique Optimization: A Single-Center Experience with Novice Endoscopists
Published on: July 11, 2025
Single-balloon-assisted colonoscopy in patients with previously failed colonoscopy
Christopher W Teshima1, Huseyin Aktas, Jelle Haringsma
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
|July 6, 2010
Summary
Single-balloon colonoscopy (SBC) is a safe and effective tool for completing procedures when conventional colonoscopy fails. This method achieved high cecal intubation rates and yielded positive diagnoses and therapeutic interventions without complications.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Endoscopy
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Conventional colonoscopy completion rates can be as low as 90%, even with experienced endoscopists.
- Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) has proven effective in challenging colonoscopy cases.
- Single-balloon endoscopy (SBE), established for small-bowel enteroscopy, has not been extensively studied for colonoscopy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy, performance, and safety of single-balloon endoscopy for colonoscopy (SBE-C).
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study was conducted at an academic tertiary referral center.
- The study included patients who had previously failed conventional colonoscopy.
- Twenty-three SBE-C procedures were performed on 22 patients.
Main Results:
- SBE-C successfully intubated the cecum in 96% of procedures (22 out of 23).
- Positive diagnoses were made in 57% of cases, including polyps, Crohn's disease, strictures, and diverticulosis.
- Therapeutic interventions, such as balloon dilation and polypectomy, were performed in 30% of procedures, with no complications reported.
Conclusions:
- Single-balloon-assisted colonoscopy demonstrates safety and efficacy in completing colonoscopies for patients with prior failures or difficulties.
- The outcomes observed with SBE-C appear comparable to those reported for DBE colonoscopy in similar patient populations.
- Further research with larger sample sizes and direct comparisons to DBE is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Endoscopic Procedures II: Colonoscopy
The colon, or large intestine, is the final segment of the digestive system. Its primary functions include absorbing water and vitamins produced by gut bacteria and transforming waste from liquid to solid to form stool. In adults, the large intestine is approximately 5 feet long and consists of four main sections:
01:26Imaging Studies III: Gastrointestinal Motility Studies and Virtual Colonoscopy
This lesson explores three gastrointestinal imaging techniques: radionuclide testing, colonic transit studies, and virtual colonoscopy.
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and solid...
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and solid...
01:26Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
Sigmoidoscopy and laparoscopy are distinct medical procedures that enable physicians to internally inspect different parts of the GI tract. Although they serve different purposes, each is essential for diagnosing and, in some cases, treating various medical conditions.
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Surgical interventions for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, are essential in managing symptoms and addressing complications. The selection of surgical procedures is contingent upon the specific conditions and complications that stem from these illnesses.
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
01:28Endoscopic Procedures III: Video Capsule Endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy, or wireless or video capsule endoscopy, is a diagnostic procedure for examining the entire gastrointestinal tract. Patients swallow a capsule about the size of a vitamin tablet. The capsule is equipped with a transmitter, a battery, an LED light source, and a color video camera to capture images throughout the gastrointestinal tract. This procedure is particularly useful for diagnosing conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, tumors, polyps, ulcers, unexplained...
01:23Lower GI Series: Barium Enema
A Barium Enema, or a lower GI series, is a specialized radiographic examination designed to visualize the lower gastrointestinal tract, specifically the colon and rectum. This procedure is instrumental in diagnosing various conditions such as colorectal cancer, polyps, diverticulosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Procedure Details
The examination begins by inserting a lubricated rectal tube into the patient's rectum to administer a radiopaque barium solution. The barium flow is carefully...
Procedure Details
The examination begins by inserting a lubricated rectal tube into the patient's rectum to administer a radiopaque barium solution. The barium flow is carefully...