In the study, a group from Germany evaluated data from 236,087 patients who underwent colonoscopy in 2006. Colon preparation resulted in clear bowels in 76 percent of patients, liquid residues in 22 percent and dirty bowels in 1.5 percent, according to the report.
According to the study, 93 percent of the examinations were performed with patients under sedation/analgesia, and 97 precent of colonoscopies were complete.
Researchers found that male sex, middle age, screening, satisfactory bowel preparation and sedation/analgesia were associated with completeness.
A total of 735 patients suffered complications, among them 520 bleedings, 69 perforations and 152 cardiorespiratory complications, according to the report
The researchers concluded that outpatient colonoscopy was safe, and that bowel preparation and sedation/analgesia contributed to the completeness of colonoscopy, according to the report.
Read the report about outpatient colonoscopy.
