Quality indicators in colonoscopies performed in digestive endoscopy services in northeast Brazil

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. Colonoscopy is fundamental in reducing its incidence and mortality, provided it follows certain quality parameters. Examples of these quality parameters are the cecal intubation rate, adenoma detection rate (ADT), and the adequate percentage of patients with satisfactory bowel preparation. AIMS: To measure the quality parameters of a colonoscopy service in Northeast Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective study, with data collected from electronic medical records, including screening colonoscopies between 2022 and 2024. RESULTS: 565 colonoscopies were included in the study. The overall ADR was 24.78, 21.27% in women and 32.03% in men. The cecal intubation rate was approximately 95%, and most patients (91.3%) had excellent bowel preparation. The polyp detection rate was 39.47%. CONCLUSIONS: The cecal intubation rate and the proportion of patients with adequate bowel preparation were satisfactory. However, the polyp detection rate was lower than recommended in the literature. Thus, evaluating these parameters is a way to monitor the quality of colorectal cancer prevention, improving the strategies employed, even in the face of the limitations encountered.