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Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Water and Air Colonoscopy in a Community Based Setting

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Colon Cancer
Hyperplastic Polyp
Tubular Adenoma
Interventions
Other: Air Colonoscopy
Other: Water Exchange Colonoscopy
Registration Number
NCT01729416
Lead Sponsor
University of California, Davis
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if screening colonoscopy performed on adults with the water exchange method, as opposed to the air method, will have a higher adenoma detection rate.

Detailed Description

Screening colonoscopy with removal of pre-cancerous adenomas was recently shown to result in a 53% reduction in mortality from colon cancer. While this clearly validates the practice of screening colonoscopy, missed adenomas, especially in the proximal colon, defined as including cecum, ascending colon, and transverse colon, remains a concern. This was demonstrated in a study of 183 patients who underwent back-to-back colonoscopies. In this population the overall miss rate for adenomas was 24% with proximal adenomas missed more often (27%) than left colon adenomas (21%). Another study looked at 4192 patients in the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) Medicare database who developed "interval cancers", that is colon cancer in a patient who had a colonoscopy done in the previous 6-36 months. These interval cancers were predominantly in the proximal colon (Proximal 68%, Distal 19.5%, rectum 10.4%, and unspecified 2.1%). This also suggests that pre-cancerous lesions are being missed in the proximal colon. As such a method that can increase proximal adenoma detection rate would be a welcome change.

One such emerging technique which shows promise for improving adenoma detection rate is water colonoscopy. In one of the early studies employing the water method a trend towards a higher ADR in the water method group was recognized (37% vs. 26%). The observation prompted a retrospective analysis of 1178 cases of screening and surveillance colonoscopy performed by a single endoscopist at the Sacramento VAMC, which showed an overall ADR (presence of at least one adenoma) of 27% with air colonoscopy whereas that for the water method colonoscopy was 35% (p=0.007). In a subsequent combined analysis of two prospective RCT of air vs. water colonoscopy for screening and surveillance using scheduled unsedated colonoscopy \[5\] and on-demand sedation \[6\], more patients were found to have at least one diminutive adenoma in the proximal colon in the water method group than in the air group (28% vs. 14%, respectively, p=0.0298). Another quasi randomized study of screening patients performed at Phoenix VAMC using high definition equipment confirmed a significantly higher overall ADR with the water method (n=177) compared with the air method (n=191) (57% vs. 46%) (p=0.03). The odds of detecting an adenoma was 81% higher with the water method (OR 1.81; 95% CI: 1.12-2.90) and independent of age, body mass index (BMI), current smoking and alcohol use, withdrawal time \& quality of bowel preparation. In the proximal colon ADR was significantly higher in patients examined with the water method than with air method (46% vs. 35%) (p=0.03), particularly for adenomas \<10 mm in size (38% vs. 25%) (p=007). These encouraging preliminary data reflect the potential benefits of water method colonoscopy.

Our current research question is whether this benefit is seen in a community based population as opposed to the VA population which is mostly male and Caucasian.

The investigators plan to perform a prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing proximal adenoma detection rate between a water exchange colonoscopy group and an air colonoscopy group. The investigators intend to employ scheduled sedation, instead of on-demand sedation, to continue the current protocol in place at our institution.

Patients in both the study arms will undergo a split bowel preparation before colonoscopy.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
178
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥50 years
  • Individuals able to provide informed consent
  • Individuals presenting for average-risk colorectal cancer screening by colonoscopy
  • Individuals presenting for surveillance of adenomatous/sessile serrated colon polyps as per the US multi-society taskforce on colorectal cancer
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients who decline to participate
  • Prior partial or complete colectomy
  • Patients with history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease)
  • Patients with prior history of colorectal cancer
  • Patients with history of screening colonoscopy within the past 10 years
  • Patients with history of familial polyposis syndromes (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Lynch Syndrome)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Air colonoscopyAir ColonoscopyThe intervention will be colonoscopy using the traditional air method in patients who are randomized to have screening colonoscopy with air colonoscopy.
Water Exchange ColonoscopyWater Exchange ColonoscopyThe intervention will be water exchange colonoscopy in patients who are randomized to have screening colonoscopy with water exchange colonoscopy.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proximal Adenoma detectionData collected when pathology is available, typically 3-10 days after the patient's procedure. Data is collected only once per patient.

Presence of adenoma detected anywhere between the cecum and the splenic flexure

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Abdominal pressure by assistant during procedureThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

Need for abdominal pressure by endoscopist's assistant during procedure to enable forward movement of colonoscope.

Sedation requirementsThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

The amount of sedation required to complete the patient's colonoscopy.

Total procedure timeThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

The total time it takes to complete colonoscopy.

Cecal intubation timeThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

The time it takes to reach the cecum during colonoscopy.

Total adenoma detectionData collected when pathology is available, typically 3-10 days after the patient's procedure. Data is only collected once per patient.

Adenoma detection anywhere in the colon during colonoscopy.

Bowel preparation quality by Boston Bowel Prep ScaleThis will be collected at the time of their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length
Body Mass Index (BMI)This will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length
Use of colonoscope stiffener during procedureThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

The need to stiffen the colonoscope to enable to forward movement of the scope during procedure

Reason for air insufflation, and length of colon when air insufflation started, while performing water colonoscopyThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

Assessment of percentage of patient requiring air insufflation when water colon fails to open colonic lumen, and site of colon where this is most likely to happen.

Patient position change during procedureThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

The need for patient's position to be changed from left lateral to other positions, to enable advancement of the colonoscope forward.

Length of colonoscope at time of cecal intubationThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

Assessment of length of the colonoscope inserted into the colon to reach the cecum.

Procedure-related pain scoreData collected during and post procedure after recovery from sedation, which is usually within 1 hour post procedure

Assessment of discomfort due to the procedure, as possible during procedure, and post procedure after recovery from sedation, being cognizant of limitations posed by sedation and attendant amnesia.

Patient perception regarding air and water colonoscopyThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

Assessment of patient's perception about the 2 methods of colonoscopy.

Advanced adenoma detection rateData collected when pathology is available, typically 3-10 days after the patient's procedure. Data is only collected once per patient
Type of polypectomy (cold biopsy/cold snare/snare cautery/need for submucosal injection/need for clip placement)This will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length
Serrated polyp detection rateThis will be collected at the time of their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length
Volume of water used during water colonoscopyThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length.

Assessment of volume of water introduced into the colon during procedure.

Post procedure recovery timeThis will be collected at the time of their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length
Smoking historyThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length
Procedure time- morning versus afternoonThis will be collected at the time of their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length
Alcohol consumptionThis will be collected at their procedure appointment which is expected to be 2 to 3 hours in length

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Elk Grove PCN, University of California, Davis

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Elk Grove, California, United States

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