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Colonoscopy aided by magnetic 3D imaging: Assessing the routine use of a stiffening sigmoid overtube to speed up the procedure

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Duncan Bell, Dr Matthew Rutter, Sanja Dogramadzi, Dr Charles Allen

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Abstract

There are not enough trained colonoscopists to cope with the present recommended number of examinations required for diagnostic and surveillance purposes. If colorectal cancer screening is to be introduced, endoscopic examination of the large bowel needs to be easier to learn and significantly quicker to carry out. The 'Bladen system', first described in 1993, is a non-radiological method of visualising the path of the endoscope, using magnetic drive coils under the patient and a chain of sensors along the biopsy channel of the instrument. In 1998, results were published using a novel computer graphics system (the RMR system), in which a much more realistic image of the endoscope could be produced using the stored positional data from the Bladen system. The RMR system has been further refined to allow, for the first time ever, accurate measurement of the effect of the passage of a colonoscope along the bowel on the lengths of different segments of the large intestine. The results obtained in 232 patients undergoing colonoscopy are analysed. In 77 of the patients, a stiffening overtube is used to splint the sigmoid colon once the endoscope is at or beyond the splenic flexure. The mean time taken to pass the colonoscope across the transverse colon is significantly shorter (p < 0.001) when an overtube is used, despite it resulting in significant lengthening of the transverse colon. The routine use of a stiffening overtube can be expected to reduce the total procedure time by between 10 and 20%.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Bell GD, Rowland RS, Rutter M, Abu-Sada M, Dogramadzi S, Allen C

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing

Year: 1999

Volume: 37

Issue: 5

Pages: 605-611

Print publication date: 09/06/1999

ISSN (print): 01400118

ISSN (electronic): 1741-0444

Publisher: Springer

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02513355

DOI: 10.1007/BF02513355

PubMed id: 10723898


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