Cecal intubation time in screening colonoscopy.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Medical Imaging
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Cecal intubation time (CIT) during colonoscopy can vary significantly.
• Understanding factors influencing CIT is crucial for optimizing procedural efficiency and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between demographic and anthropometric factors (BMI, body fat, muscle mass, fat mass) and cecal intubation time (CIT).
• To identify predictors of prolonged CIT in patients undergoing screening colonoscopies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 1229 patients aged 40-80 years undergoing screening colonoscopies.
• Data collected included age, sex, BMI, body fat percentage, muscle mass, fat mass, surgical history, CIT, and bowel preparation quality (Boston Bowel Preparation Scale [BBPS] score).
• Statistical analyses, including univariate and multivariate analyses, were performed to determine significant factors affecting CIT.

Main Results:

• Multivariate analysis revealed that anthropometric indices (BMI, body fat, muscle mass, fat mass) were not significant predictors of CIT.
• Older age (≥ 70 years) and poor bowel preparation (BBPS score ≤ 5) were significantly correlated with prolonged CIT (difficult colonoscopy).
• Factors such as sex and prior abdominal/pelvic surgery did not significantly influence CIT.

Conclusions:

• Anthropometric factors do not appear to significantly affect cecal intubation time in expert-performed colonoscopies.
• Older age and inadequate bowel preparation are the primary predictors of longer cecal intubation times.
• These findings can aid in procedural planning and patient counseling regarding colonoscopy duration.