Earlier studies have shown that colonoscopies scheduled for the afternoon tend to be less effective in catching abnormal growths than the ones done in the morning. The recent research reveals that the gap ceases to exist when doctors work half-day rather than a full day.
The findings support the view that doctor fatigue results in less accurate polyp detection in afternoon colonoscopies than in the morning.
Polyps are abnormal growths in the colon that usually are harmless but could sometimes become cancerous.
The study conducted by the Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale examined records of almost 4,700 colonoscopies done in 2009 at their center.
Two-thirds were performed by doctors working half-day, the rest were handled by doctors who worked full-day.
Researchers found that when doctors worked the whole day, polyps were spotted in 26% of morning-scheduled procedures, but merely in 21 % of afternoon colonoscopies.
That difference didn’t exist among doctors working half-day. Polyps were discovered in about 27% of procedures performed in the morning or in the afternoon.
When performing a colonoscopy, a doctor passes a slender camera-equipped scope into the rectum & along the colon, trying to find polyps & usually removes any that are detected. It takes around 30 minutes for each exam.
Researchers believe that when the exam is repeatedly performed by doctors all day long, fatigue sets in – and that may explain the inaccurate polyp detection rates later in the day.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean you ought to worry in case you have an afternoon-scheduled colonoscopy. Other factors – such as colonoscopy preparation – are far more important.
Before going in for a colonoscopy, the patient must have a thorough bowel cleansing, usually by taking a strong liquid laxative. Carefully following ‘bowel prep’ instructions is a key factor in determining whether all polyps have been detected.
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