Colonoscopies

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There is no doubt that colonoscopies are a lifesaver. They have been proven time and time again to detect colon cancer in its earliest stages. But there is always a small risk that there can be side effects to the procedure.

Yale researchers have taken a look at that and what they what they found surprise many, although it's not out of line with the literature: 1.6 percent of 325,000 otherwise low-risk healthy patients who had a colonoscopy in the year 2010 experienced a complication serious enough to send them to a hospital or emergency department within seven days. What's more, the team found wide variation in the rates of emergency visits and hospitalizations across facilities, from about 8 per 1,000 up to 20 per 1000. Another way of looking at it. With a national population of 1.7 million medicare fee for service beneficiaries undergoing colonoscopies each year, it can be estimated about 27,000 would have an unplanned hospital visit within seven days.

Overall, while it is important to limit potential issues, the test is overwhelmingly successful.