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er than average," says Dr. Lloyd. "And our adenoma detection rate is
averaging about 30%. We're not missing a whole lot of polyps, but
everyone misses some."
They employ a computer-based, automated analysis tool for endoscopic procedures developed by the Mayo Clinic's Piet de Groen, MD.
The device attaches to colonoscopy equipment, analyzes the image output and provides a quality number that indicates how well colonoscopies are performed. It measures the percentage of the colon's surface physicians see, how much of discovered polyps they remove and
how well they irrigate and flush the bowel prep.
"Every doctor has good days and bad days," says Dr. Lloyd, emphasizing that physicians also have different techniques and different adenoma detection rates. "We're trying to get everyone's to be as high as
possible."
If a physician's detection rate is lagging, Dr. Lloyd is armed with
objective data to encourage him to take a little bit more time, use better technique or talk to patients about the importance of following
bowel prep guidelines.
4
Peripheral views
We talked to Dr. Lloyd on the day he and his physicians first
used a new endoscope platform that's generating buzz by providing a 330° field of view — compared to the 170° views of traditional
scopes — in front and behind the scope during extubation. It features
a 3-monitor setup: one straight-ahead screen for conventional forward
viewing and 2 screens mounted at 45° angles to the center screen for
behind-the-fold views of the colon.
Dr. Lloyd says the new technology improves his views inside the
cecum, at the flexors and inside folds of the colon. "It's not a device to
make colonoscopy faster, but you can see everything," he explains,
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | N O V E M B E R 2013
