Background and study aims: Conventional reporting of polyps is often incomplete. We tested the Polyp Manager
(PM), a new software application permitting the endoscopist to document polyps in
real time during colonoscopy. We studied completeness of polyp descriptions, user-friendliness
and the potential time benefit.
Patients and methods: In two Dutch hospitals colonoscopies were performed with PM (as a touchscreen endoscopist-operated
device or nurse-operated desktop application). Completeness of polyp descriptions
was compared to a historical group with conventional reporting (CRH). Prospectively, we compared user-friendliness (VAS-scores) and time benefit of the
endoscopist-operated PM to conventional reporting (CR) in one hospital. Duration of
colonoscopy and time needed to report polyps and provide a pathology request were
measured. Provided that using PM does not prolong colonoscopy, the sum of the latter
two was considered as a potential time-benefit if the PM were fully integrated into
a digital reporting system.
Results: A total of 144 regular colonoscopies were included in the study. Both groups were
comparable with regard to patient characteristics, duration of colonoscopy and number
of polyps. Using the PM did reduce incomplete documentation of the following items
in CRH-reports: location (96 % vs 82 %, P = 0.01), size (95 % vs 89 %, P = 0.03), aspect (71 % vs 36 %, P < 0.001) and completeness of removal (61 % vs 37 %, P < 0.001). In the prospective study 23 PM-colonoscopies where compared to 28 CR-colonoscopies.
VAS-scores were significantly higher in the endoscopist-operated PM group. Time to
report was 01:27 ± 01:43 minutes (median + interquartile range) in the entire group
(PM as CR), reflecting potential time benefit per colonoscopy.
Conclusions: The PM is a user-friendly tool that seems to improve completeness of polyp reporting.
Once integrated with digital reporting systems, it is probably time saving as well.
