Background: Megachannel is a newly developed colonic access system allowing rapid and multiple passes of the colonoscope to the right side of the colon.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and clinical feasibility of placing a 100 cm Megachannel prototype in the right side of the colon.
Setting: Six centers, international, both surgeons and gastroenterologists performing endoscopy.
Design and intervention: Patients scheduled for colonoscopy with suspected right-side colonic polypoid lesions were included. The prototype was loaded onto a 160 cm lower GI endoscope and introduced via colonoscopic guidance.
Main outcome measurement: The ability to place this device in the right side of the colon.
Results: The Megachannel prototype was introduced in 41 patients (19 female, mean age 54 years) undergoing colonoscopy. The cecum was reached in 27 cases (66%) within 18 minutes (range, 3-35 minutes) and with 73 cm (range, 40-100 cm) of the device being inserted into the colon. Mild tissue bruises and mild pain were observed in 5 and 3 patients, respectively. In 14 patients, the device assisted the removal of multiple polyps (2-12) as tissue was repeatedly retrieved through the channel. The device also allowed delivery of an endoscopic US scope or suction caps to the right side of the colon.
Limitations: Prototype performance may differ from the actual product (80 cm in length, redesigned introducer plugs). Small number of patients, difficult in diverticular disease.
Conclusions: This newly developed colonic access system can be safely placed in the right side of the colon and is useful for a variety of advanced procedures that require repeated insertion of the colonoscope or delivery of bulky instruments. (
Clinical trial registration number: NCT00987896.).
2010 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.