Removal of colon polyps during colonoscopy reduces the development of colorectal cancer.

Technical Expertise

• Our physicians perform safe and complete colonoscopies.
• Each physician performs > 1000 outpatient colonoscopies per year.
• We review all complications. These are rare and well below the national average. Colon perforation rate in our centers is < 1:4,000 colonoscopies (< 0.025%); the national average is 0.1-0.2%. 
• Complete examination (to the cecum) is achieved in > 99% of colonoscopies, well above the 90% completion rate benchmark recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology Taskforce on Quality in Endoscopy.
  

Colonoscopy preparation

• The quality of a bowel preparation correlates with colonoscopy accuracy.
• Last year we initiated an ongoing effort to modify and develop effective and well-tolerated preparations that minimize patient discomfort.

Polyp Detection

• We adhere to current recommendations on careful, slow examination of the colon in order to maximize the effectiveness of colonoscopic screening.
• Detection and removal of precancerous polyps (adenomas) during colonoscopy is prospectively measured for all physicians.
• Adenoma detection rate *:

                           National Benchmark                South Denver GI

      Males > 50              25%                                    34%

      Females > 50          15%                                    23%

      * Percent of colonoscopies in which adenomas were detected.

        Average among all physicians (> 125 colonoscopies per physician)

Colonoscopy surveillance

• Follow up colonoscopy (surveillance) after removal of colon polyps also reduces colorectal cancer incidence.
• Our physicians abide by surveillance guidelines recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American Cancer Society.