CompletedNot Applicable

The Carbon Footprint Study of Colonoscopy

Thailand362 participantsStarted 2025-10-01

Plain-language summary

With global warming intensifying, GI endoscopy is among the top three greenhouse gas-emitting medical procedures. Colonoscopy, a cornerstone for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, significantly contributes to the carbon footprint (CF). This study quantifies CO₂ emissions in different steps of colonoscopy and evaluates the environmental impact of common polypectomy techniques to establish baseline CF data and identify opportunities for mitigation. This study included patients undergoing colonoscopy for CRC screening. CO₂ emissions were comprehensively measured at each step of the procedure (pre-, during, and post-colonoscopy), including energy consumption, all equipment and medications, waste management, and endoscopy reprocessing. Emission data were also collected for common polypectomy techniques, including cold forceps biopsy (CFB), cold snare polypectomy (CSP), hot snare polypectomy (HSP), and hot snare endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), all performed according to standard polypectomy protocols.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 80 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 18-80 years Exclusion Criteria: * Patient status grade III-V according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) * Poor bowel preparation (grade \<6 in the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale \[BBPS\]) * Endoscopic JNET type III or suspicion of malignancy * Hematologic or coagulation disorders, Plt\<140,000/mcL, INR\>1.5 * anti-platelet/anticoagulant medication that could not be paused as recommended in the current guideline * Emergency colonoscopy, GI bleeding, unstable vital sign, critical ill patient * Inflammatory bowel disease * Pregnancy * Severe cardiopulmonary disease * Severe infection * Malignancy * History of allergy to IV sedative medication

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Carbon footprint of normal screening colonoscopy

Timeframe: From bowel preparation ingestion through completion of endoscope reprocessing for each colonoscopy procedure.

Incremental carbon footprint according to colonic polypectomy technique

Timeframe: From insertion of the polypectomy device through completion of polyp removal and specimen retrieval for each resected polyp.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07171853

SponsorKing Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2026-04-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Colonoscopy trials