Magnetic endoscopic imaging vs standard colonoscopy: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the theoretical advantages of magnetic endoscope imaging (MEI) over standard colonoscopies (SCs) and to compare their efficacies.


METHODS
Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane library and the Science Citation Index, were searched to retrieve relevant trials. In addition, abstracts from papers presented at professional meetings and the reference lists of retrieved articles were reviewed to identify additional studies. The meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.1. A random effect model with the Mantel-Haenszel method was used for pooling dichotomous and continuous data. A sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding the trials with a small number of patients and by excluding the trials performed by inexperienced providers.


RESULTS
Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including 2967 patients, were included in the meta-analysis to compare cecal intubation rates and times, sedation dose, abdominal pain scores and the use of ancillary maneuvers between MEI and SC. The overall OR was 1.92 (95%CI: 1.13-3.27, eight RCTs), as indicated by the cecal intubation rate of MEI compared with SC, but MEI did not have any distinct advantage over SC for cecal intubation time (MD = -0.07, 95%CI: -0.16-0.02; three RCTs). MEI did not generally result in lower pain scores. Outcomes were also analyzed for the two subgroups based on the endoscopists' experience level to evaluate cecal intubation rates. MEI presented better outcomes for non-experienced colonoscopists than experienced colonoscopists.


CONCLUSIONS
The real-time magnetic imaging system is of benefit in training and educating inexperienced endoscopists and improves the cecal intubation rate for experienced and inexperienced endoscopists.
Yi Chen, Bo Chen, Lin Xia, Xian-Peng Qin, Yong Zhou, Ning-Ning Li, Xiao-Ting Wu, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
Yi
Y
Chen
Yu-Ting
YT
Duan
Qin
Q
Xie
Xian-Peng
XP
Qin
Bo
B
Chen
Lin
L
Xia
Yong
Y
Zhou
Ning-Ning
NN
Li
Xiao-Ting
XT
Wu
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics / Q000379:methods*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Colonoscope; Magnetic; Magnetic endoscope imaging; Meta-analysis; Standard colonoscope