According to the American College of Gastroenterologists (ACG), adenoma detection rate (ADR) is “the measurement that best reflects how carefully colonoscopy is performed.“ Defined as the percentage of patients age 50 and older undergoing screening colonoscopy who have one or more precancerous polyps detected, ADR is calculated by dividing the number of procedures in which one or more adenomas is detected by the total number of procedures. An endoscopist’s  ADR should be at least 25% for men and 15% for women.

Topics: cancer, CRC, colorectal cancer, polyp, adenoma, colon cancer, probiotics, microbiome, ADR, colonoscopy, interval cancer, AMR, adenoma detection rate, adenoma miss rate

 

Topics: cancer, CRC, colorectal cancer, polyp, adenoma, colon cancer, colonoscopy

The human gut microbiome comprises all of the bacteria in in the human intestine, which amounts to over 100 billion bacteria. This outnumbers the cells in our bodies 10 to 1. Although probiotic products touting gut health are currently flooding the marketplace (ranging from dietary supplements to cake mixes), there is no consensus on what a healthy human microbiome looks like, and none of these products have been approved by the FDA to treat or prevent specific diseases. While most agree that it is essential to human health, facts about the microbiome and how it functions in the body are still under investigation.

Topics: cancer, CRC, colorectal cancer, polyp, adenoma, colon cancer, probiotics, microbiome

An article in the latest issue of The International Journal of SPHM (Safe Patient Handling and Mobility) investigates a significant but rarely publicized problem—musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among endoscopy nurses and technicians. “Endoscopy Staff Injury: A Serious Problem Hiding in Plain Sight” provides specifics on the extent, nature, and root causes of endoscopy staff MSDs and includes data compiled from various studies.

Topics: patient experience, healthcare costs, patient, ColoWrap, nurse injury, abdominal pressure colonoscopy, looping in colonoscopy, safe patient handling, VA SPHM, nursing, endocopy, SGNA

There is no doubt that the partial government shutdown, the longest in US history, is having a detrimental effect on the 800,000 Federal government employees and their families. In response to the crisis, some furloughed workers have gone to extreme measures; thousands have created GoFundMe pages to help pay for necessities like food, childcare, and medicine.

Put yourself in their shoes. Now imagine that you have cancer.

Topics: colon cancer, cancer, CRC, colorectal cancer, patient experience, healthcare costs, patient, government shutdown, furlough

 

Topics: colonoscopy, patient, cancer, colorectal cancer, CRC, colon cancer

Looping occurs in 90% of all colonoscopies. It is the main cause of patient pain and failed and prolonged procedures. Yet the concept of looping can be hard to grasp and even harder to visualize.

This short video illustrates WHAT looping looks like and WHY it happens.

Topics: colonoscopy, nurse injury, difficult colonoscopy, abdominal pressure colonoscopy, endoscopy nursing, safe patient handling, patient, nursing, endoscopy, nurse, ColoWrap, injury endoscopist

Meet Cathy

She’s an endoscopy technician with over 30 years of experience. She loves her job, but not the pain and injuries that come along with it.

Topics: colonoscopy, nurse injury, difficult colonoscopy, abdominal pressure colonoscopy, endoscopy nursing, safe patient handling, patient, nursing, endoscopy, nurse

Lynch syndrome is one of the most common hereditary cancer syndromes and the most common cause of inherited colorectal cancer (CRC) in the Unites States. An estimated one out of every 300 people could be a carrier. Given these statistics, it would seem that if testing is readily available (it is) and affordable (it is), it should be routinely performed (it isn’t).

Topics: colonoscopy, colon cancer, cancer, inherited, LS, Lynch syndrome, CRC, colorectal cancer, gastroenterologist

 

Topics: colorectal cancer, CRC, colonoscopy, screening, cecal intubation time, gastroenterologist, GI nursing, endoscopy, ADR, endoscopist