Colonoscopies performed by resident physicians in a university teaching hospital: a consecutive analysis of 1000...

Proficiency and competence of endoscopists is perhaps the mainstay of successful diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy.

To analyze indications, diagnostic findings, and complications of colonoscopies performed by resident physicians in a university teaching hospital.

Were analyzed 1,000 colonoscopies consecutively performed by fourth-year residents under direct supervision of experienced colonoscopists. Information on patients' demographic data, bowel preparation, indications for the procedure, success of the procedure, diagnostic findings, and complications were obtained.

A total of 596 (59.6%) female and 404 (40.4%) male patients were examined. Age ranged from 3 to 99 years (mean 53.8 years). Bowel preparation was performed with 10% mannitol solution in 978 patients (97.8%), being considered appropriate in 97.6% of cases. Main indications were: diagnosis (56.4%), therapy (9.6%), screening (17.3%), and surveillance (22%). Cecal and ileocecal valve intubation rates were 90.3 and 58.6%, respectively. Colonoscopy was normal in 45.8% of cases. The most common diagnosis was diverticulosis (18.5%), followed by polyps (17%) and malignancies (6.8%). Findings consistent with an inflammatory process were identified in 122 patients (12.2%) and vascular abnormalities were detected in 11 patients (1.1%). Other diagnoses accounted for 3.9% of cases. There were two cases (0.2%) of complications (submucosal hematoma and bleeding), both after polypectomy, with no need for surgical intervention.

The residents under supervision and guidance of specialists can perform colonoscopies with excellent success and low complication rates, with final results comparable to those achieved by fully trained endoscopists.