Use of fecal occult blood testing in hospitalized patients: results of an audit.

Background: The fecal occult blood test (FOBT), widely used as a colorectal cancer screening tool, continues to be used in hospitalized patients. However, the utility of this test for hospitalized patients is unclear.

Objective: To assess FOBT use in a large urban regional health authority.

Practice and documentation of performance of colonoscopy in a central Canadian health region.

Objective: To evaluate the reporting and performance of colonoscopy in a large urban centre.

Methods: Colonoscopies performed between January and April 2008 in community hospitals and academic centres in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (Manitoba) were identified from hospital discharge databases and retrospective review of a random sample of identified charts. Information regarding reporting of colonoscopies (including bowel preparation, photodocumentation of cecum⁄ileum, size, site, characteristics and method of polyp removal), colonoscopy completion rates and follow-up recommendations was extracted.

Colonoscopy and its complications across a Canadian regional health authority.

Background: Defining the complication rate of endoscopy performed across an entire city will capture usual as opposed to referral center data.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the current practice of colonoscopy and complications associated with lower GI endoscopy in usual clinical practice.

Design: All admissions within 30 days of an outpatient lower GI endoscopy at any of the 6 adult-care Winnipeg hospitals were identified.

Low incidence of adverse events in outpatient pediatric renal allograft biopsies.

In 1999, our center implemented a policy of outpatient protocol biopsies as standard practice for the clinical management of pediatric renal allograft recipients. In order to determine the safety of this procedure, we conducted a retrospective chart audit of all outpatient renal allograft biopsies performed at our center. Biopsies were performed under conscious (midazolam) or procedural (propofol/fentanyl) sedation.