Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To assess the incidence, clinical features, and management of endoscopic colon perforations in a large number of patients at a major medical teaching center.
METHODS
A retrospective review of medical records of all patients with colon perforations from endoscopy over a 10-yr period.
RESULTS
A total of 10,486 colonoscopies were performed over a 10-yr period. There were 20 (0.19%) perforations and two (0.019%) deaths related to colonoscopy and two perforations with no deaths in 49,501 sigmoidoscopies (0.004%). The majority of perforations (65%) occurred in the sigmoid colon. The mean age of the patients was 72 yr (range, 48-87 yr). Multivariate analysis using gender and age showed that female gender was an independent predictor of a higher risk of perforation (p < 0.05). Electrocautery injury (36%) and mechanical injury (32%) from the tip and shaft of the endoscope were the major causes for perforation. Most patients (91%) presented within 48 h of endoscopy. Nine patients (47%) required a surgical resection with primary anastomosis; seven (37%) required a simple closure. The average hospital length of stay was 7.7 +/- 2.8 days. Although trainee endoscopists were involved in only 20% of the colonoscopies performed, eight (40%) perforations occurred while the training fellow was involved in the case. However, this increased risk of perforation with a training fellow was not statistically significant (p = 0.625).
CONCLUSIONS
Colonoscopy can result in significant morbidity and carries a small risk of death. Sigmoidoscopy has lower risk. The following situations may represent increased risk to colonoscopy patients: unusual difficulty in traversing the sigmoid colon; difficult examinations in female patients, and difficult examinations performed by trainee physicians.
TY - JOUR
T1 - Endoscopic perforation of the colon: lessons from a 10-year study.
AU - Anderson,M L,
AU - Pasha,T M,
AU - Leighton,J A,
PY - 2001/1/11/pubmed
PY - 2001/2/28/medline
PY - 2001/1/11/entrez
SP - 3418
EP - 22
JF - The American journal of gastroenterology
JO - Am J Gastroenterol
VL - 95
IS - 12
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence, clinical features, and management of endoscopic colon perforations in a large number of patients at a major medical teaching center. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of all patients with colon perforations from endoscopy over a 10-yr period. RESULTS: A total of 10,486 colonoscopies were performed over a 10-yr period. There were 20 (0.19%) perforations and two (0.019%) deaths related to colonoscopy and two perforations with no deaths in 49,501 sigmoidoscopies (0.004%). The majority of perforations (65%) occurred in the sigmoid colon. The mean age of the patients was 72 yr (range, 48-87 yr). Multivariate analysis using gender and age showed that female gender was an independent predictor of a higher risk of perforation (p < 0.05). Electrocautery injury (36%) and mechanical injury (32%) from the tip and shaft of the endoscope were the major causes for perforation. Most patients (91%) presented within 48 h of endoscopy. Nine patients (47%) required a surgical resection with primary anastomosis; seven (37%) required a simple closure. The average hospital length of stay was 7.7 +/- 2.8 days. Although trainee endoscopists were involved in only 20% of the colonoscopies performed, eight (40%) perforations occurred while the training fellow was involved in the case. However, this increased risk of perforation with a training fellow was not statistically significant (p = 0.625). CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy can result in significant morbidity and carries a small risk of death. Sigmoidoscopy has lower risk. The following situations may represent increased risk to colonoscopy patients: unusual difficulty in traversing the sigmoid colon; difficult examinations in female patients, and difficult examinations performed by trainee physicians.
SN - 0002-9270
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/11151871/Endoscopic_perforation_of_the_colon:_lessons_from_a_10_year_study_
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
