Monitoring colonoscopy withdrawal times remains important

Abstract

We read the recent paper on colonoscopy withdrawal time (CWT) with interest [1]. In the English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, a diagnostic withdrawal time of at least 6 minutes remains a key quality metric for colonoscopic performance [2]. We feel that it is an important standard, as it helps to protect against the poor practice of rapid withdrawal without proper mucosal inspection. Although a slow withdrawal time is not the only aspect of a gold standard inspection technique, it remains one of its key principles.