Quality Criteria in Colonoscopy Using the Water-Immersion Technique
Keywords:
adenoma; colorectal cancer; colonoscopy; quality criteriaAbstract
Introduction: Colonoscopy is the technique of choice for the prevention and detection of colorectal cancer. The water-immersion technique increases the polyp detection rate and improves the quality criteria for this procedure.
Objective: To determine the performance of certain quality criteria for colonoscopy using the water-immersion technique.
Methods: An analytical study was conducted on 200 patients who underwent colonoscopy between June 2024 and February 2025. Based on the colonoscopy technique used (conventional or water immersion), two study groups of 100 patients each were formed and randomly assigned. The variables evaluated were colonoscope insertion time, withdrawal time, number of polyps detected, and polyp detection rate. Descriptive summary statistics, the chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare variables. Student’s t-test was used to compare means between independent samples.
Results: Insertion time was shorter in the water-immersion colonoscopy group (57.9% vs. 42.1%) (p = 0.0003), and withdrawal time was longer (54% vs. 46%) (p = 0.0023). The water-immersion technique detected a greater number of polyps (61% vs. 40%) (p = 0.0047).
Conclusions: Water-immersion colonoscopy improves the insertion and withdrawal times of the colonoscope and detects a greater number of polyps.
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