title: Comparison of single- versus double-balloon assisted-colonoscopy for colon examination after previous incomplete standard colonoscopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colonoscopy fails to achieve cecal intubation in 5-10 % of cases. Many of these cases can be completed using balloon-assisted colonoscopy, either with the single-balloon colonoscopy (SBC) or the double-balloon colonoscopy (DBC) techniques.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the completion rates of SBC and DBC in patients with previous incomplete conventional colonoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2009 and July 2011 either SBC or DBC was performed in 53 patients in whom previous conventional colonoscopy did not achieve cecal intubation. The medical records of these 53 patients were reviewed retrospectively for details regarding (1) indication for the initial colonoscopy, (2) patient characteristics, (3) data from the initial colonoscopy, and (4) details on both SBC and DBC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SBC was successful in intubating the cecum in 100 % (26/26) of patients and DBC was successful in 93 % (25/27) of patients. The median (range) time to reach the cecum was 17 (9-43) min in the SBC group and 20 (7-58) min in the DBC group (P = 0.37). The presence of polyps was an entirely new finding in 35 % (9/26) of patients in the SBC group and 30 % (8/27) of patients in DBC group. Therapeutics were performed in 73 % (19/26) of patients in SBC group and 67 % (18/27) of patients in DBC group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For patients with incomplete conventional colonoscopy, SBC and DBC offer high cecal intubation rates as well as detection of additional polyps and therapeutic capability. Either SBC or DBC can be considered after incomplete conventional colonoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 13400 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. dzeletovic.ivana@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dzeletovic
authors.forename: M Edwyn
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Shabana F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Pasha
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Crowell
authors.forename: G Anton
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Suryakanth R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gurudu
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Leighton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis; D020685:Colonoscopes; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies