Defining the complication rate of endoscopy performed across an entire city will capture usual as opposed to referral center data.
Our purpose was to evaluate the current practice of colonoscopy and complications associated with lower GI endoscopy in usual clinical practice.
All admissions within 30 days of an outpatient lower GI endoscopy at any of the 6 adult-care Winnipeg hospitals were identified. This includes endoscopy for both complex and routine patients. A chart audit of all cases with potential complications was performed.
A total of 24,509 outpatient lower GI endoscopies for adults were performed at the 6 hospitals over the 2 study years (April 1, 2004, to March 31, 2006). There were 303 admissions with potential complications. The colonoscopy completion rate was 65% (72% for gastroenterologists vs 59% for general surgeons, P