Factors predict prolonged colonoscopy before the procedure: prospective registry study

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Colonoscopy procedure time varies, impacting endoscopy unit scheduling.
• Cecal intubation time (CIT) is a key metric for assessing colonoscopy difficulty.
• Factors influencing CIT require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate factors associated with cecal intubation time (CIT) in colonoscopy.
• To identify predictors of prolonged CIT.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study of 902 patients undergoing colonoscopy.
• Exclusion criteria included poor bowel preparation and history of colorectal surgery.
• Patients were categorized by CIT (<11 min normal, ≥11 min prolonged).

Main Results:

• Median CIT was 6 minutes.
• Factors associated with prolonged CIT included low BMI (≤18.5), previous abdominal surgery, higher Wexner Constipation Score, and less endoscopist experience.
• Cecal intubation rate was 97.5%.

Conclusions:

• Low BMI, prior abdominal surgery, constipation severity, and endoscopist experience are significant factors affecting CIT.
• Considering these factors can improve efficiency in endoscopy unit planning and utilization.