THE USE OF ABDOMINAL CORSETS ON COLONOSCOPY: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL.

BACKGROUND

Colonoscopy is a widely used endoscopic procedure to investigate diseases of the colon and rectum. Colonoscopy procedure has difficulties for the patient and endoscopist.

AIMS: To investigate whether the use of an abdominal corset can make the colonoscopy procedure easier and faster.

METHODS

This is a prospective randomised controlled study. Patients over 18 years of age who underwent elective colonoscopy in our clinic were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to the use of the corset. Variables were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

A total of 204 patients were included in the study. Corsets were used in 97 patients and not used in 107 patients. The need for manual compression was found to be decreased in the corset use group. There was no effect of corset use on cecal intubation time in the general population. It was found that cecal intubation time decreased with corset use in patients with body mass index - BMI<30 and male gender.

CONCLUSIONS

The need for manual compression can be reduced by the use of an abdominal corset during colonoscopy. The use of an abdominal corset may make the colonoscopy procedure faster and easier for the endoscopist and the patient.