Colonoscopy in obese patients: challenges and emerging solutions

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Public Health
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Rising obesity rates (over 40% of U.S. adults) elevate colorectal cancer (CRC) risk.
• Obese individuals exhibit lower colonoscopy screening participation and face procedural barriers.
• Obesity is linked to increased risk of colorectal adenomas and cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• Review challenges in colonoscopy for obese patients.
• Examine emerging solutions to enhance screening effectiveness.
• Improve patient outcomes in colorectal cancer screening for individuals with obesity.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of challenges and innovations in colonoscopy for obese patients.
• Analysis of factors affecting bowel preparation, intubation, and detection rates.
• Evaluation of new technologies and institutional strategies.

Main Results:

• Obesity is associated with poor bowel preparation, longer intubation times, and lower adenoma detection rates.
• Sedation complications are more frequent in obese patients.
• Innovations like AI-enhanced visualization and robotic assistance show promise.

Conclusions:

• Adapting colonoscopy practices for obese patients is crucial due to rising obesity rates.
• Evidence-based strategies and new technologies can overcome procedural barriers.
• Optimizing CRC screening for obese patients requires further research and guideline refinement.