A prospective national study on colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy in 2000 in France.
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.
Canard
Jean-Marc
JM
Centre Médico-Chirurgical du Trocadéro, Paris.
Debette-Gratien
Marilyne
M
Dumas
Rémi
R
Escourrou
Jean
J
Gay
Gérard
G
Giovannini
Marc
M
Greff
Michel
M
Grimaud
Jean-Claude
JC
Helbert
Thierry
T
Marchetti
Bernard
B
Lapuelle
Jean
J
Napoleon
Bertrand
B
Palazzo
Laurent
L
Ponchon
Thierry
T
Rey
Jean-François
JF
Sautereau
Denis
D
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*