Colonoscopy: what is adequate and what is good?

Detection of colorectal cancer within a few years of a colonoscopy is devastating for the patient, and also for the initial endoscopist. The bowel cancer screening programme in the UK has delivered major rewards in terms of cancer detection, but also driven up standards of colonoscopy. Caecal intubation and adenoma detection have become key indices of performance of the colonoscopist. In a report of over 16 000 procedures by Verma et al, and associated opinion piece by Banks, the challenge for low-volume endoscopists (and their Trusts) is addressed. This edition of Frontline Gastroenterology includes a further report on colonoscopy quality. The Amsterdam group describe an important aspect of quality assurance in endoscopy: bridging the gap between patient satisfaction as interpreted …