Gastroenterology Meeting Highlights
ACG Annual Meeting 2009 Brief Reports
The American College of Gastroenterology held its Annual Scientific Meeting in San Diego from October 23 – 28, 2009 in San Diego. Research reported during the meeting included how videorecordings of colonoscopy improved quality tests, the effectiveness of a drug that reduces constipation from opiate drugs, and support for guidelines that call for screening colonoscopy beginning at age 40 for people with a family history of colorectal cancer.
Videos Improve Colonoscopy Performance
When endoscopists knew that their colonoscopies were being recorded on video, their overall performance increased significantly. They spent more time on each exam and average quality judged on a 1 to 5 scale improved from 2.9 to 3.8.
In a quality improvement program, experienced doctors were not told at first that their colonoscopies were being taped, but digital recordings were made of 8 to 10 tests. After being told they would be recorded another 10 cases were taped. Both sets of “pre” and “post” awareness tapes were randomly shuffled, reviewed and scored by an expert endoscopist who didn’t know which gastroenterologist did the exam or whether the doctor was aware of not of being recorded.
In reporting the study at the ACG meeting, Douglas Rex, MD, FACG, from Indiana University, concluded,
Videorecording of colonoscopy dramatically changed process quality indicators of colonoscopist behavior toward longer examination time and better technique. Systematic videorecording of colonoscopy may support quality performance of colonoscopy.
ACG Abstract 11, Rex et al. Videorecording Impacts Colonoscopy Performance
Experimental Medicine Helps with Opiate-Induced Constipation
In a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial, NKTR-118 increased the number of spontaneous bowel movements in patients with constipation caused by opioid pain medicines. In addition, the time before the first bowel movement was much shorter than with a placebo. Time before a bowel movement for 25 mg NKTR-118 was 6.6 hours compared to 48.6 hours for placebo and and 2.9 hours for the 50 mg dose compared to 44.9 with placebo.
NKTR-118 blocks opioid receptors in the gut but does not affect receptors in the central nervous system where opiates work to reduce pain. There were no opiate withdrawal symptoms or lack of pain relief at any point during NKTR use.
Lynn Webster, MD and colleagues concluded,
In conclusion, the results of this study show that oral NKTR-118 is an effective and safe therapy to normalize GI function in patients with opiate-induced constipation without reversing analgesia.
Screening Finds Polyps in People from 40 to 49 with a Family History of Colon Cancer
Current ACG guidelines call for screening people with a first-degree relative (parents, brothers, sisters) with colorectal cancer to have screening colonoscopies beginning at age 40. Doctors at the University of Michigan reviewed colonoscopies done only for screening in their patients from 40 to 49 who had a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer. They found adenomatous polyps in 1 in 5, and advanced adenomas in 4 out of 100.
There was no significant difference in either polyps or advanced adenomas depending on whether the relative had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer before or after the age of 60. However, diabetes did have a significant impact on finding polyps.
Dr. Akshay Gupta and team concluded,
Based upon 21.7% prevalence of adenomas and 3.6% prevalence of advanced adenomas, our data supports current guideline recommendations to begin screening colonoscopy at age 40 among individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer.
This news article was originally posted on November 4th, 2009 and was accurate at the time of publication. Since then, information may have changed or links may now be outdated. Please call our Answer Line 1-877-427-2111 for the latest information, or talk to your doctor before making any medical decisions.
Posted by Kate Murphy on November 4th, 2009
Tags: colonoscopy, colonoscopy screening, constipation
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