Gastrointestinal and Non-Gastrointestinal Complications of Colonoscopy

Complication rates of colonoscopy are an important consideration in developing screening recommendations and quality indicators and understanding the cost-effectiveness of colonoscopy.

In a population-based study of approximately 1.6 million patients undergoing screening or surveillance colonoscopy (S-colo) and over 1.2 million patients undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy (NS-colo), researchers compared the rates of gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI complications within 30 days with rates among approximately 2 million patients undergoing low-risk, non-GI procedures (joint injections/aspiration/lithotripsy, arthroscopy/carpal tunnel release, and cataract operations).

In the S-colo group, 59% of patients had biopsies/interventions. Rates per 100,0…