Robotic, self-propelled, self-steerable, and disposable colonoscopes: Reality or pipe dream? A state of the art review

Table 2 Advantages and limitations of conventional colonoscopy alternatives

Procedure	Advantages	Limitations
Conventional colonoscopy	Extensive knowledge base and expertise already available, diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Gold standard	Bowel cleansing required, painful for some (sedative and analgesics often required), prolonged training period required, risk of perforation due to forces required
CT colonography[39,41,101]	Lower intensity bowel cleansing, shorter procedure, less discomfort (no sedation or analgesia needed), other intraabdominal pathology can be detected, lower risk of perforation, better patient tolerance	Low dose radiation used, lower sensitivity for small and flat polyps, no therapeutic capability, no direct mucosal visualisation, limited evidence of a benefit in CRC incidence or mortality
Wireless capsule colonoscopy	Minimally invasive, painless, better patient tolerability, low perforation risk	Aggressive bowel cleansing required, lower sensitivity than CC for polyps, no control of the capsule, no therapeutic capability, risk of capsule retention, limited battery life can cut out before complete colon visualisation

CRC: Colorectal cancer; CC: Conventional colonoscopy; CT: Computed tomography.