A game-changing study led by Dr. Samir Grover, Executive Vice President of Education at Scarborough Health Network (SHN), and Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Toronto, and Nikko Gimpaya, Research Manager of Education at SHN, has been published in the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE) Journal (subscription required), the official journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The article is accompanied by a blog post on endoscopedia.com.
Dr. Grover led this global study to create consensus among the international community of endoscopy professionals to establish a new set of guidelines for referring large nonpedunculated colonic polyps for potential endoscopic resection.
In other words…
Imagine you are a highly skilled endoscopist, specialized in the removal of large, potentially cancerous, and life-threatening tumors—a person whose daily work-life consists of meticulously preparing for, and then performing, procedures to investigate, identify, and remove tumors from the people who have put their trust in you to dramatically change their lives. They are both nervous that the seriousness of their situation requires your level of expert specialty, and comforted by being in your expert care.
If left untreated, these potentially cancerous growths, or “polyps” as they are referred to, can lead to colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in the developed world.
Large nonpedunculated colorectal polyps are often referred to expert centres for endoscopic removal. Resecting, or removing, these polyps is a technically challenging procedure that requires detailed patient information and planning for decision-making regarding if and how to approach it. So, it may surprise you to discover endoscopists receive a hodgepodge of information to sort out, fill in the gaps, and work from! Despite the widely held understanding that inadequate referral information can result in poor outcomes for the procedure, increased risk of complications, and unnecessary diagnostic procedures, no one had stepped up to rectify the issue. Until now.
A win for colorectal cancer prevention
By using a research methodology that involved the best and brightest in the field from across the globe, researchers were able to define and validate a set of guidelines that are applicable across geographic, cultural, and physiological boundaries.
The team noted that this study represents a significant milestone in the fight against colorectal cancer. The guidelines developed aim to ensure all necessary information is included in referrals, making the removal process safer and more efficient.
The adoption of these clear referral standards means endoscopists around the world will be able to plan these intricate procedures with better precision. This change is expected to lead to better outcomes for patients and a more efficient use of healthcare resources.
Congratulations to Dr. Grover, Nikko, and their co-authors!