How Many Annual Colonoscopies to Maintain Credentialing?

Douglas K. Rex, MD

U.K. data suggest a minimum of 120 procedures per year to ensure cecal intubation rates ≥90%.

Credentialing for endoscopy can be a contentious issue, particularly at a local level. Conflict often arises between gastroenterologists and surgeons or primary care physicians. These groups' professional organizations vary in the number of procedures they recommend to achieve initial credentialing. Also, data are limited as to how many procedures should be required to maintain credentialing.

In the current study, investigators evaluated the records of 129 operators who each performed between 20 and 399 procedures per year in the U.K. during 2008 and 2009. Standards set by the U.K.'s Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) are a minimum of 100 colonoscopies per year and cecal intubation rates ≥90%. When investigators plotted annual procedural volumes against cecal intubation rates, the trend line crossed the 90% cecal intubation rate at between 120 and 125 procedures. The authors concluded that the JAG should upgrade its target for maintenance of credentialing from 100 to 120 colonoscopies per year.

Citation(s):

Verma AM et al. Correlation of caecal intubation rate to volume: Colonoscopists should undertake at least 120 procedures per year. Frontline Gastroenterol 2014 Jul; 5:156.