Technical performance of colonoscopy -- multicenter study in university and non-university centers of Romania.

The aim of the paper was to evaluate the national availability of colonoscopy and the quality parameters of this procedure in our country. Material and method: During a 6 months period (01.07-31.12.2009), we performed a prospective multicenter study in which 76 centers were invited to respond to a questionnaire regarding colonoscopy, 39 centers agreeing to participate. We assessed: the number of colonoscopies, the number of total colonoscopies and the causes of incomplete colonoscopies. Results: During the study period, 16,083 colonoscopies were performed, 12,294 (76.4%) of them total colonoscopies. In 1,191 cases, stenosis was the cause of incomplete colonoscopy. If we consider this an objective reason for an incomplete colonoscopy, there were 12,294 total colonoscopies (82.4%). Comparing university centers with non-university ones, the proportion of total colonoscopies was 10,400/12,475 (83.4%) vs. 1,894/2,417 (78.4%) (p<0.0001). However, comparing the present study with previous ones, performed in 2003 and 2007, the proportion of total colonoscopies increased from 70.5% to 76.9% and 82.4% respectively (2003 vs. 2007 p<0.0001; 2007 vs. 2009 p<0.0001), while the quality difference between university and non-university hospitals persisted. Conclusions: the quality of colonoscopy in Romania increased in the last 5 years, while the quality difference between university and non-university hospitals persisted.