CHICAGO – German investigators reported on their experience using the disposable Endocuff device in a prospective, randomized two-center trial involving 498 patients undergoing colonoscopy. The flexible Endocuff attaches to the tip of the colonoscope and features two rows of small flexible, hinged wings, Dr. Tobias Meister said at the annual Digestive Disease Week.
The polyp detection rate was 56% for Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy and 42% for standard colonoscopy (P = .001), reported Dr. Meister of Helios Albert-Schweitzer-Klinik, Northeim, Germany.
Courtesy Dr. Tobias Meister
EndoCuff-assisted colonoscopies were more likely to detect polyps and adenomas than standard colonoscopies, a team of German researchers found.
Compared with standard colonoscopy, Endocuff-assisted colonoscopy detected significantly more polyps per patient (mean 1.58 vs. 0.97; P less than .0001), more sigmoid polyps less than 1 cm in size (120 vs. 42; P = .001), and more cecum polyps less than 1 cm (37 vs. 14; P = .002).
The adenoma detection rate was 36% with Endocuff colonoscopy and 28% with standard colonoscopy patients (P = .043).
The number of carcinomas detected was similar in the two groups (2 vs. 3; P = .68), but the Endocuff outperformed standard colonoscopy for low-grade adenomas (208 vs. 112; P = .008), mean adenomas per patient (0.91 vs. 0.49; P =.011), and hyperplastic polyps (33% vs. 21%; P = .003), Dr. Meister said.
Withdrawal time was not measured, although there was a slight increase in total procedure time in the Endocuff group (23.11 minutes vs. 21.51 minutes; P = .04).
Patrice Wendling/Frontline Medical News
Dr. Tobias Meister
Most patients (96%) had no complications, but minor mucosal lacerations were more common with the Endocuff (9 vs. 2; P = .028). The cuff was lost during six colonoscopies, but endoscopically retrieved.
"The Endocuff is feasible, safe, reliable, and easy to handle, and might have the potential to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer," Dr. Meister concluded. The Endocuff is available in Europe and the United States; it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2012.
The study was supported by Helios Albert-Schweitzer-Klinik. Dr. Meister reported no conflicting interests.