A Pilot Study to Assess the Role for Endocuff© Assisted Colonoscopy in the Detection of Colonic Cancer and Polyps

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the UK(1) . Detection of cancer at an early stage, as well as detection and removal of polyps through gold standard colonoscopy examination decreases mortality from the disease. However colonoscopy has a well documented miss rate, with some areas of the bowel difficult to visualise and neoplastic lesions potentially hidden behind folds in the colon.

The Endocuff© is a disposable polymer sleeve with hinged lateral arms. The arms flatten mucosal folds and fix the colonoscope centrally in the bowel lumen allowing controlled withdrawal and improving mucosal visualization. The cap easily attaches to the tip of current colonoscopes without modification. In this single centre, randomised controlled trial, the investigators aim to assess the performance of the current gold standard colonoscopic examination against the current gold standard colonoscopic examination with the Endocuff© attached to the colonoscope.

The investigators aim to recruit 300 patients (150 in each group) who have previously been identified to have colonic polyps or cancers undergoing surveillance colonoscopy following NICE guidelines(2). Colonoscopy will be performed by Joint Advisory Group on gastro-intestinal endoscopy (JAG) certified colonoscopists following quality indicator guidance. All patients undertaking follow up surveillance colonoscopy for previous polyps or cancer will be invited to participate and those agreeing will be randomly allocated to one or other technique.