Abstract

Background and Aims

Colorectal cancer (CRC) can be prevented through colonoscopic polypectomy, but this exposes patients to risks, including delayed post-polypectomy bleeding (DPPB). Endoscopists increasingly use clips prophylactically with the aim of preventing DPPB. However, clips are costly, and data to support their efficacy in this context are inconsistent. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of prophylactic clipping for preventing DPPB.

Methods

We searched electronic databases and other relevant sources for randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of prophylactic clipping versus no clipping for the prevention of DPPB. Pooled relative risks were determined using a fixed-effects model. Subgroup analyses were also performed.

Results

A total of 2305 citations were initially screened. Seven randomized controlled trials satisfied all criteria for inclusion. The quality of included studies was generally low to moderate. A total of 2851 patients underwent 5405 polypectomies. Delayed post-polypectomy bleeding occurred at an overall pooled rate of 2.5%. No overall benefit of clipping for preventing DPPB was observed, with a pooled relative risk of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 1.36). No significant patient or polyp factors predicting DPPB were found through subgroup analyses. No publication bias was identified.

Conclusions

Randomized trials to date do not demonstrate a protective effect of prophylactic clipping for the prevention of DPPB, and therefore, the practice of routine prophylactic clipping appears unjustified. Additional high quality randomized trials are required to identify higher-risk groups that may benefit from prophylactic clipping.

Details

Title
Routine Prophylactic Endoscopic Clipping Is Not Efficacious in the Prevention of Delayed Post-Polypectomy Bleeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Author
Forbes, Nauzer 1 ; Levi Frehlich 2 ; James, Matthew T 1 ; Hilsden, Robert J 1 ; Kaplan, Gilaad G 1 ; Wilson, Todd A 2 ; Lorenzetti, Diane L 2 ; Tate, David J 3 ; Bourke, Michael J 3 ; Heitman, Steven J 1 

 Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 
 Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 
 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 
Pages
105-117
Publication year
2019
Publication date
Aug 2019
Publisher
Oxford University Press
ISSN
25152084
e-ISSN
25152092
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3170022111
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.