6 9
M O N T H 2 0 1 4 | S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT 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
E N D O S C O P Y
C
linical reviews of the effec-
tiveness of Medivators'
EndoCuff Endoscopic
Overtube and the G-Eye Endoscope
from Smart Medical Systems in
improving colonoscopies are still
underway. The earliest, manufacturer-
funded studies of EndoChoice's Fuse
Full Spectrum Endoscopy system, however, have been impressive.
According to a study published in the March issue of the journal Lancet Oncology
(
tinyurl.com/llq65ev
), Fuse's full-spectrum endoscopy is superior to standard, forward-
view colonoscopy in terms of adenoma miss rates. Researchers at surgical facilities in
Israel, the U.S. and the Netherlands report that while forward-view missed 41% of ade-
nomas (20 out of 49 in 15 patients), full-spectrum missed only 7% (5 out of 67 in 5
patients).
Since previous studies have marked forward-view's typical miss rate at 24% and 31%,
this could prove a colossal improvement. "Full-spectrum endoscopy represents a tech-
nology advancement for colonoscopy and could improve the efficacy of colorectal can-
cer screening and surveillance," the researchers write.
These preliminary results are promising. However, more time and research —
including studies showing reproducible results — may be needed to change a majori-
ty of physicians' practice patterns.
What time will also tell — in the form of sustained, practical use — is whether
these endoscopic innovations will revolutionize care. Consider, for instance, con-
trast enhancement mode (also known as narrow-band imaging), an endoscopic
technology that emerged around the same time as high definition did. Positioned as
a "virtual chromoendoscopy," it used specific wavelengths of light (instead of dye)
CLINICAL RESULTS
The Effects of Enhanced Endoscopy
TRIPLE TRIAL EndoChoice's Fuse
supplements the forward view with
peripheral vision.
Daniel
Cook
1404_SurgerysHottestTrends_Layout 1 3/27/14 2:51 PM Page 69
