Pain During Colonoscopy Varies Between Endoscopists

In a cross-sectional study of nearly 23,000 patients undergoing screening colonoscopy in Poland who completed a postprocedure questionnaire, 63% underwent unsedated colonoscopy, 22% received benzodiazepine/opioid sedation, and 14% received propofol. Self-reported rates of severe or moderate pain across these sedation groups were 14%, 14%, and 8%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, predictors of lower likelihood of pain during the procedure included propofol sedation (benzodiazepine/opioid sedation did not reach statistical significance), younger age, male sex, adequate bowel preparation, no previous abdominal surgery, higher body-mass index, use of fourth-generation colonoscopes (variable stiffness and responsive insertion technology)…