Cold Snare Outperforms Cold Forceps

Cold snare polypectomy is widely considered the optimal method for achieving complete removal of small and diminutive polyps. In the first randomized, controlled trial to address this issue, investigators compared complete resection rates using cold snare and cold forceps techniques.

In 138 patients undergoing colonoscopy, polypectomy technique was randomized to cold snare or cold forceps. After polyps were resected, the polypectomy site was removed by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), using submucosal injection followed by resection of the polypectomy site and surrounding mucosa using Endocut. Complete resection was defined as absence of polyp tissue in the EMR resection of the polypectomy site.

Researchers identified 145 polyps, of which …