Colorectal cancer is a common type of cancer that can be treated if diagnosed in its early stages. Therefore, undergoing colorectal cancer screening through colonoscopy is extremely important. While light sedation is typically used during a colonoscopy, sedation with propofol has recently emerged as a method that not only enhances patient comfort but also improves the quality of the procedure.
In this regard, an advanced study (meta-analysis) shows that full sedation with propofol is more effective and safer than traditional sedation agents for colonoscopy sedation.
This meta-analysis, conducted on 2,512 patients across 19 different studies, found that compared to traditional sedation agents, propofol led to faster patient recovery times (-5.94 minutes), shorter discharge times (-33.57 minutes), higher satisfaction scores (a measure used for patient satisfaction), and shorter total procedure times (-4.31 minutes). Additionally, propofol showed similar complication rates to traditional sedation agents. In summary, this study demonstrates that propofol is a more effective and safer option for colonoscopy sedation.
Source: ScienceDirect
Moreover, propofol may offer shorter sedation durations compared to other agents, allowing patients to spend less time under sedation during the procedure. This leads to less discomfort and fewer sedation-related side effects for the patient. For this reason, the use of propofol may become more frequently preferred for colonoscopies performed for colorectal cancer screening.
In conclusion, regular colonoscopy screenings for colorectal cancer are crucial, and the choice of sedation agent during these procedures is of great importance. Colonoscopy with propofol sedation is considered a more effective and safer option.
At HC International Clinic, all colonoscopies are performed with full sedation using propofol, under the supervision of an anesthesiology team.
