Quality Metrics in Surgery Resident Performance of Screening Colonoscopy

In an attempt to further standardize surgical training, the American Board of Surgery now requires that residents provide evidence that they are certified in flexible endoscopy. This prospective study was designed to determine whether, through a structured curriculum, junior level residents could learn to conduct competent and safe screening colonoscopy (SC). An Institutional Review Board-approved prospective analysis of SC performed by five postgraduate year-2 residents during the 2012–2013 academic year was completed. All SC were performed under direct supervision of one of the two surgical endoscopists after each resident passed a structured endoscopy simulation curriculum. The following metrics of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the American College of Gastroenterology were recorded: bowel prep quality; cecal intubation; withdrawal time; number of visualized polyps; procedural duration; final pathology; adenoma detection rate (ADR); and, complications. Power analysis revealed that 108 procedures were required for an 80 per cent probability of data analysis accuracy. (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy ASGE/American College of Gastroenterology benchmark values in parentheses): 166 colonoscopies were performed, of which 149 met inclusion criteria. Bowel prep was considered “excellent” or “good” in 90 per cent of cases. The cecum was reached in 96 per cent of cases. Mean withdrawal time was 12 minutes (≥6 minute). Average procedure time was 30 minutes (≤ 30 minute). Polyp(s) were visualized and removed in 30 per cent of patients. The overall adenoma detection rate was 22.8 per cent (>20%). The ADR for males was 29.5 per cent (>25%). The ADR for females was 18.2 per cent (>15%). Average polyp size was 7.7 mm (range: 2–25 mm). No patients were readmitted for bleeding or perforation. Within a structured learning environment, trained surgical endoscopists can teach junior level surgery residents to perform safe and competent screening colonoscopy.