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Open‐access colonoscopy: outcomes of referrals from the emergency department
Author(s) -
Wu R. S. Y.,
Chan S. S. W.,
Cheung N. K.,
Graham C. A.,
Rainer T. H.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
colorectal disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.029
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1463-1318
pISSN - 1462-8910
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-1318.2010.02301.x
Subject(s) - medicine , colonoscopy , emergency department , emergency medicine , medline , general surgery , medical emergency , colorectal cancer , nursing , political science , law , cancer
Aim The study investigated the diagnostic outcome of colonoscopy referrals from the emergency department (ED) via an open‐access system. Method A retrospective cohort study over two years was performed on all patients under 65 years referred for open‐access colonoscopy by the ED in a hospital with an annual ED attendance of 140 000. Patient characteristics and presenting symptoms were retrieved. Waiting times from presentation to colonoscopy were recorded. Results Over a 2‐year period, 266 patients were referred, of whom 37 defaulted, leaving 229 patients who had a colonoscopy. The mean age was 48.3 ± 11.3 (SD) and the female/male ratio was 229/125. The most frequent presenting symptoms included: rectal bleeding ( n = 142, 62%), change of bowel habit ( n = 47, 20.5%) and abdominal pain ( n = 40, 17.5%). The median waiting time from presentation to colonoscopy was 17 (range 1–69) days. A positive colonoscopic finding was recorded in 45.4%, including colorectal cancer in 12 (5.2%). Conclusion The rate of a positive diagnoses from the ED‐based colonoscopy referral service was comparable to that of the general Hong Kong population. This approach may help to reduce the waiting time for colonoscopy in a specialist colorectal clinic.