Improving colorectal cancer follow-up: the dedicated single-visit colorectal cancer follow-up clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of the dedicated single-visit colorectal cancer follow-up clinic in improving postoperative surveillance.


METHODS
Data of follow-up of 137 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer treated by the senior author over a 3 year period were obtained. Surveillance over three periods in time were analysed: (i) before the establishment of a protocol; (ii) following the implementation of a protocol for follow-up of colorectal cancer with liver ultrasound and colonoscopy; and (iii) following the establishment of the dedicated single-visit colorectal cancer follow-up clinic.


RESULTS
The single-visit colorectal cancer follow-up clinic has reduced the mean time to the interventions (from 12.1 months to 6.0 months for the liver ultrasound and from 8.7 months to 6.4 months for the colonoscopy). In addition, the percentage of patients having their liver ultrasound within the targeted time has increased from 14% to 55%. The percentage of patients having their colonoscopy within the targeted time has also increased from 50% to 77%. The percentage who missed their liver ultrasound has been reduced from 57% to 0%. The percentage of patients who missed their colonoscopy has also been reduced from 36% to 3%.


CONCLUSIONS
The dedicated single-visit colorectal cancer follow-up clinic improves the postoperative surveillance of patients with colorectal cancer.
Cheah
Lean-Peng
LP
Department of Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
Hemingway
David M
DM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D014463:Ultrasonography