Factors Influencing Complication Rates at Colonic Polypectomy: A Prospective Study from a Tertiary-Referral Center

Colon polypectomy decreases the incidence of colorectal cancer and related mortality. Several factors such as the size, location and type of polyp as well as endoscopist experience have been shown to correlate with the risk of ensuing procedure-related complications. This study aims to evaluate the impact of polyp and endoscopist-related factors on the rate of postpolypectomy complication in a real-life setting.

During the study period all polypectomies performed in our unit were reported on a standard form that included data on polyp type (flat, sessile, pedunculated), size, location in the colon, resection method, endoscopist volume and procedure-related complications arising up to 30 days. The main outcome was the complication rate of polypectomies. The factors that associated with a higher risk of complications were assessed on univariate and multivariate analysis.

244 polyp resections from 95 patients were included in the analysis. 199 polyps were resected by low-volume endoscopists (44.7%) and 135 polypectomies were performed by high-volume endoscopists (55.3%). On multivariate analysis only polyp size correlated with the risk of procedure-related complications.

Polyp size is the most important risk factor for procedure-related complications. Both high and low-volume endoscopists have a low overall rate of serious complications.