The effect of the endoscopist on the wait-time for colorectal cancer surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of the specialty of physicians who perform endoscopy on preoperative wait-time of colorectal cancer patients was evaluated.


METHODS
Data from 86 patients who have been operated with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer from January 2011-February 2013 regarding age, sex, tumor location, colonoscopy date, surgery date, the expertise and institution of the endoscopist were retrospectively examined. The time between colonoscopy and surgery was accepted as the pre-operative wait time (PWT).


RESULTS
Out of 86 patients, 24 (27.9%) colonoscopies were performed by general surgeons (GS), and 62 (72.1%) by gastroenterologists (GE). When patients who underwent colonoscopy in other centers were extracted, the PWT for our center was 20.4±10.8 days. When grouped according to specialties, the PWT of patients who had their colonoscopy performed by GS was significantly shorter than patients who underwent colonoscopy by GE at the same center (p<0.05). Patient's age, sex and location of the tumor had no effect on PWT (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The preparation time for surgery in colorectal cancer patients is influenced by the specialty of the physician performing the procedure. In order to standardize this period, a common flow diagram after endoscopy should be established for patients with suspected malignancy.
Clinic of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Teaching and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Bora
B
Karip
Clinic of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Teaching and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Yalın
Y
İşcan
Clinic of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Teaching and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Birol
B
Ağca
Clinic of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Teaching and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Mahir
M
Fersahoğlu
Clinic of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Teaching and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Timuçin
T
Aydın
Clinic of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Teaching and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Kafkas
K
Çelik
Clinic of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Teaching and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Nuriye Esen
NE
Bulut
Clinic of General Surgery, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Teaching and Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Kemal
K
Memişoğlu
Colorectal cancer; colonoscopy; pre-operative wait time