Clinical Practice Guidelines for Surveillance Colonoscopy

Surveillance colonoscopy contributes to the impact of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) by reducing subsequent cancer risk in those with screen-detected neoplastic lesions. As the 2011 Surveillance Colonoscopy Guidelines will expire in 2016, the Department of Health commissioned Cancer Council Australia to revise these guidelines.
Best practice in the management of surveillance colonoscopy in Australia has the potential to prevent cancer through removal of pre-malignant adenomas while avoiding inappropriately frequent requests for low-yield colonoscopy that are not supported by sound evidence. Such requests are likely to overwhelm colonoscopy services and delay follow-up investigation of NBCSP participants with positive screening tests.
It is therefore critical to have up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines available to:
• provide quality indicators for colonoscopy;
• guide recommendations on surveillance colonoscopy in those with increased risk of developing CRC;
• allow participants in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program to progress smoothly through the screening pathway;
• help colonoscopists to better manage their patients and colonoscopy waiting lists and balance the demands of groups of patients with different procedural indications; and
• reduce deaths from bowel cancer overall.