Methods: The subjects were 192 patients with prior abdominal surgery, among 3,600 patients who underwent a colonoscopy at Samsung Changwon Hospital from May 2008 to May 2010. We collected the following data: insertion time, age, gender, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, method of abdominal surgery, and the degree of bowel cleanliness. Previous abdominal operations were divided into colectomy, non-colectomy abdominal surgery, pelvic surgery, and laparoscopic surgery groups.
Results: The average colonoscope insertion time in patients with prior abdominal surgery (7.73±5.95 min) was longer than that of the non-surgery group (6.4±3.88 min). Patients in the colectomy groups were older and had a shorter insertion time (5.11±3.32 min) than patients in the other groups.
Conclusions: Insertion of a colonoscope in patients with previous abdominal surgery was more difficult than that in the control group, except the colectomy group. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2011;42:283-288)
Methods: We performed retrospective reviews of all patients with colonoscopic perforations between January 2000 and June 2010.
Results: Of 25,883 diagnostic colonoscopies performed, seven cases of colon perforations were reported. Among those, five cases had an abdominal operation history; the site of perforation was the sigmoid colon in three cases and the rectum in four cases. The manipulation type was forward viewing in three cases and retroflexion in four cases. The time to diagnosis was immediate in six cases and delayed in one case, and treatment was conservative management in three cases and surgical management in four cases.
Conclusions: Special attention is required for patients with a previous abdominal operation and retroflexion. Even after perforations occur, favorable outcomes can be obtained by conservative treatment if the patient's condition is stable, the bowel preparation is proper, and there are no signs of peritonitis. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2011;42:289-292)