Body mass index predicts cecal insertion time: the higher, the better.
BACKGROUND
It is essential to determine the factors that predict prolonged procedural time during colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) on cecal insertion time (CIT) during colonsocopy.


METHODS
Consecutive outpatients who received colonoscopies over a 10 month period (April-October 2007) were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included colonic resection, strictures or exophytic masses precluding colonic evaluation. Data were collected for age, sex, race, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, prior history of abdominal or pelvic surgery, history of diverticulosis, participation of fellow, CIT, quality of colon cleansing and the amount of sedation used during the procedure.


RESULTS
A total of 1430 patients (586 men and 844 women; mean age 60.3 years) were included in the final analysis. The mean CIT was 648.5 seconds (SE = 11.47). Older age, female gender, fellow involvement, poor bowel preparation and lower BMI were associated with prolonged mean CIT on linear regression analysis ((R2) = 0.116; P < 0.001). Mean CIT declined linearly with increasing BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
A higher BMI is strongly associated with progressively shorter CIT.
Department of Gastroenterology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, USA.
Prashant
P
Krishnan
Aijaz Ahmed
AA
Sofi
Robert
R
Dempsey
Osama
O
Alaradi
Ali
A
Nawras
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002432:Cecum; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult