Factors Affecting Insertion Time during Colonoscopy

Moon, Young Myung; Kang, Jin Kyung; Park, In Suh; Kim, Won Ho; Yoo, Hyo Min; Lee, Seung Keun; Cho, Young Jun; Kim, Cheol

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS
The goal of this study was to examine whether certain variables are associated with insertion time during colonoscopy.
METHODS
A total of 703 consecutive subjects underwent colonoscopy by a single endoscopist from April of 1998 to August of 1998. The insertion time during colonoscopy was checked and the factors that may affect insertion time were analyzed.
RESULTS
The indications for colonoscopy were bowel habit change (34.8%), the diagnosis of and follow up for colonic neoplastic disease (31.6%), abdominal pain (22.8%), thin stool caliber (19.2%), hematochezia (16.1%), routine examination (10.7%), inflammatory bowel disease (9.4%), tenesmus (8.8%) and a family history of colonic disease (3.1%). Of 703 subjects, complete colonoscopy was possible in 678 (96.4%). Reasons for incomplete insertion included inadequate bowel cleaning (n=11), pain (n=6), a history of operations (n=3), and others (n=5). Therefore, the adjusted completion rate was 97.9% (678/692). The mean insertion time in complete colonoscopy was 7.07 4.26 min (range; 2~35 min). Multivariable analysis revealed that inadequacy of bowel preparation was significantly associated with prolonged (>10 min) insertion time (p=0.005), whereas the history of colorectal resection was inversely associated with prolonged insertion time (p=0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Among the factors affecting insertion time during colonoscopy, cleanness of the bowels is the only correctable factor.