A preliminary study of further attempt at the development, testing and application of an auxiliary equipment for electronic colonoscopy

Abstract

Colonoscopy is a valuable tool for colorectal cancer screening and health checkups, with increasing utilization annually. Assisted entry is a standard procedure during electronic colonoscopy. In China, most clinically assisted colonoscopy procedures involve a nurse directly applying abdominal pressure to the patient's abdomen. This maneuver provides a fulcrum for the physician performing the procedure, facilitating smoother access to the colon. To reduce labor, optimize resource utilization, and enhance efficiency, this preliminary study aimed to develop and evaluate an adjunctive pressurized removable lap band for colonoscopy. This prospective randomized controlled trial randomized participants into control and experimental groups for observational comparison during follow-up, mitigating retrospective bias. Data were collected from 150 participants in a tertiary hospital endoscopy department between March and September 2023. Participants were evenly divided into groups using a randomized number table. Demographic data, including gender, age, height, weight, and abdominal circumference, were collected to ensure group representativeness and comparability. No significant pre-test differences were found between the groups. The experimental group demonstrated a significant reduction in examination-only insertion time compared to the control group (p < 0.001), median respectively 2.5, 3. Additionally, compared with control group (41.3%), the experimental group (24%) required fewer nurse assistance (p = 0.024). No significant differences were observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes between the groups (p = 0.07, p = 0.43). However, compared with control group (0.89 ± 1.17), the experimental group (2.19 ± 0.94) reported lower pain scores (p < 0.001). Overall, this preliminary study validates the adjunctive pressurized removable lap band as an effective tool for improving colonoscopy efficiency, reducing patient pain, and conserving medical resources.Trial registration: Registration Authority: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR). Number: ChiCTR2400082664.

Keywords: Auxiliary equipment; Colonoscopy; Colorectal cancer.