Yao MD, von Rosenvinge EC, Groden C et al.
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Gastrointest Endosc 2009;69:906–10.
Editor’s note: Although endoscopy and colonoscopy are generally safe procedures with a low risk of complications, it remains unclear whether obtaining multiple biopsies during these procedures increases this risk. The present retrospective review of adverse outcomes in a series of patients participating in research studies at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, USA, confirms that even a high number of biopsies (>20 per endoscopic procedure) does not increase the risk of bleeding, perforation, or other associated complications.