title: A prospective national study on colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy in 2000 in France.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the practice of colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy in France in 2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted in November 2000 using questionnaires sent to all gastroenterologists practicing in France (N=2858) who were asked to reply to items concerning colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies performed on two workdays chosen in advance. The response rate was 32.8%. Data were extrapolated to establish estimates for the entire year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An estimated 894000 colonoscopies and 115320 sigmoidoscopies were performed in 2000. Single-use material was used in 22.1% of the procedures. Indications for endoscopy were mainly hematochezia (21.6%), gastrointestinal symptoms (35%) and surveillance of patients with a history of previous polypectomy (15%). Colorectal cancer screening was the indication for 20% of colonoscopies. Abnormal findings were reported for 54.8% of the endoscopies (polyps for 287218 procedures and cancer for 32799). Failure was noted in 4.9% of colonoscopies. The complication rate was 0.48%. Most polyps were adenomas (64.4%) or hyperplasic polyps (28.1%). The overall estimated number of colonoscopies with polypectomy was 224133.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 2000 there was an increased rate of colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening (20%) but an overall decrease (2.5%) in the total number of colonoscopies compared to 1999. Abnormal findings were disclosed by 54.8% of the procedures. Extrapolation from these data indicates that colonoscopic screening enabled the diagnosis of 32799 colorectal cancers.
authors.affiliation: Centre Médico-Chirurgical du Trocadéro, Paris.
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Canard
authors.forename: Marilyne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Debette-Gratien
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Escourrou
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greff
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Grimaud
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Helbert
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lapuelle
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Napoleon
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ponchon
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sautereau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*