Effect of external evaluation and training on the incomplete resection rate in cold snare polypectomies for colonic lesions <10 mm: a prospective Spanish study (POLIPEVA)

Background/Aims: Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) technique for polyps <10 mm varies widely among endoscopists. This study aimed to evaluate an online educational intervention for incomplete resections.Methods: This multicenter trial was performed between 2021 and 2024. After a baseline assessment of incomplete resection rates for CSP of lesions <10 mm was completed, participants undertook a 1-hour online course led by an expert senior endoscopist. A second assessment was performed following course completion. Resections were evaluated using two marginal biopsies obtained after CSP, assessed by a single pathologist blinded to polyp histology. Follow-up was conducted by telephone 4 weeks after colonoscopy.Results: A total of 29 endoscopists participated in the baseline assessment, yielding a baseline 4.8% incomplete resection rate, with a median individual rate of 4.3% (interquartile range [IQR], 2.9%–5.7%; range, 0%–15.6%). Thirteen endoscopists completed the course and participated in the second study phase, which included 1,271 polyps in phase 1 and 826 in phase 2. No significant improvement in incomplete resection rate was observed (4.8% in phase 1 vs. 4.0% in phase 2; difference, 0.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI], –1.1% to 2.6%; p=0.4). Among 3,087 polypectomies, intraprocedural bleeding occurred in 288 (9.3%) cases; most were self-limited, with only 45 (1.5%) requiring clipping. Delayed bleeding was observed in five (0.5%) patients, four of whom had mild bleeding and one severe. No perforations were observed.Conclusions: The utility of online endoscopic technique courses appears limited. CSP demonstrates an excellent safety profile (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT04636619).