Physicians competent in colonoscopies after performing 150 procedures

Colonoscopies are considered the gold standard for detecting colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Research presented this week at Digestive Disease Week 2007 (DDW) reported that for a physician to be competent in colonoscopy they have to complete more than 150 procedures.

In this study of colonoscopies performed by 24 first-year fellows in 15 centres, the success rate was determined by the completion rate and the cecal intubation time (the time to insert a tube into the first part of the bowel). The success rate was significantly improved and reached the competency standard after 150 procedures. For example, after 150 procedures the cecal intubation time decreased from 14.2 to 9 mins.