Complications of flexible fiberoptic colonoscopy and polypectomy

The results of the 1974 A/S/G/E survey of complications relating to colonoscopy and polypectomy are analyzed. Members reported 25,298 diagnostic colonoscopies with a morbidity of 0.32% and a mortality of 0.008%. The most common complication of diagnostic colonoscopy was perforation (55 cases or 0.22%). The only fatalities (2) were associated with perforation. There were 6,214 colonoscopic polypectomies reported with a morbidity of 2.3% and no mortality. The most common complication of polypectomy was hemorrhage (115 cases or 1.9%).

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