FP8.8 - LumenEye XI rigid digital rectoscope in the assessment of anorectal symptoms: a sustainable substitute for outpatient flexible sigmoidoscopy?

Abstract Aims To evaluate the acceptability, safety and diagnostic yield of the LumenEye XI in the assessment of anorectal symptoms. Methods Consecutive patients with anorectal symptoms, referred to the colorectal unit by their general practitioner, had a full clinical assessment followed by endoscopic examination using the LumenEye XI by a consultant colorectal surgeon. Results 59 consecutive patients,16 being male, were examined. The median age was 59 years (range 27-90). The main reported presenting complaints were rectal bleeding (n = 18, 21.4%), proctalgia (n = 10, 15.5 %), faecal incontinence (n=12, 14.3%), obstructive defaecation (n=7, 8.3%), anorectal swelling (n = 7, 8.3%), and mucous discharge (n = 2, 2.4%). The main findings were haemorrhoids (n= 18, 22.5%), rectal prolapse and rectocoele (n=14, 17.5%), and inflammatory conditions (proctitis, anal fistula, pouchitis) (n=4, 5%). One patient was diagnosed with rectal cancer. 19 patients (23.75%) had normal findings. 13 patients (22%) were referred for further investigations. Out of the 18 patients with rectal bleeding, 16 had a definitive diagnosis made with LumenEye. The diagnoses in patients with rectal bleeding were haemorrhoids (n=15, 53.6%), inflammation (n=4, 14.3%), prolapse (n=2, 7.1%), and ulceration (n=1, 3.6%). No cause could be identified in 2 of these patients. The rectosigmoid junction was visualised in all patients who had an intact rectum (57 out of 59 patients). All patients tolerated the procedure well, with no complications. Conclusions LumenEye XI is safe and well accepted by patients with good diagnostic accuracy. It therefore offers a potential solution to helping to relieve the endoscopy burden and enable cost savings by reducing the number of outpatient flexible sigmoidoscopies.