A Retrospective Analysis of 4001 Colonoscopies in Tertiary Referral Center

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications, success, and findings of the colonoscopy procedures that were performed at our endoscopy unit and compare it with similar Turkish studies.

Methods: The reports of 4001 colonoscopy procedures that were performed between March 2013 and March 2016 at the Endoscopy Unit of Gastroenterology Department in our center were evaluated retrospectively. Data including age, gender, indications, findings, the status of bowel preparation, and cecal intubation were recorded.

Results: In a 3-year period, a total of 4001 colonoscopy procedures were performed and 2134 (53.3%) of the patients were male. The mean age of patients was 55.91 ± 14.58 (18-95) years. The largest group consisted of follow-up procedures (1566, 39.14%), which were colorectal polyp surveillance (749, 19.1%), post-cancer resection surveillance (413, 10.32%), and inflammatory bowel disease surveillance (372, 9.29%). Colorectal polyp (31.92%) was the most common finding. Colorectal cancer rate was 2.92%.

Conclusion: It was noteworthy that the most common colonoscopy indication was colorectal polyp surveillance. Post-cancer resection surveillance and inflammatory bowel disease surveillance rates were higher in our study than in similar studies in our country. These results can be explained by the fact that our center has a specific inflammatory bowel disease outpatient clinic and is a tertiary referral polypectomy center in the region.

Cite this article as: Erol F, Özütemiz AÖ. A retrospective analysis of 4001 colonoscopies in tertiary referral center. Diagn Interv Endosc. 2022;1(2):29-33.