What is a Colonoscopy?

Who Needs to Be Screened?

Colonoscopy is recommended from age 40 to detect and prevent colorectal cancer early, especially for those at higher risk. Cancer rates are rising in younger adults, making early screening important. It helps find and remove precancerous polyps before they turn cancerous. People with a family history or certain health conditions may need screening even earlier for better outcomes.

Why Apply VDO Framework to Colonoscopy?

In PHKL, we apply the Value-Driven Outcomes (VDO) framework in colonoscopy to: 

• enhance patient outcome
• optimize resource use
• improve overall care efficiency

By analysing data on quality indicators such as detection rates, complication rates, and patient experience, we can identify best practices that lead to safer, more effective procedures. This ensures that patients receive evidence-based care while reducing unnecessary costs.

Colonoscopy Clinical Indicators

1. Adequate bowel preparation (Boston Bowel Prep Score > score 6 = Good Bowel Prep)
• A poor bowel prep cleanliness caused limited visibility of colon during examination which correlates to the Polyp & Adenoma Detection Rate.
2. Caecal intubation rate = ≥ 90%
• The rate of doctor fully inserted the colonoscope into colon to detect any precancerous polyps or lesions.
3. Withdrawal Time = ≥ 6 min
• The total amount of time spent during a colonoscopy. A 6-minute withdrawal time is currently the standard of care.
4. Polyp Detection Rate (PDR)
• The rate of detecting any precancerous polyp in colon.
5. Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR)
• The rate of detecting Adenomas which are generally benign or noncancerous tumour but carry the potential to become adenocarcinomas which are malignant or cancerous.

How does Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur compare to international benchmarks?