The global impact of COVID-19 on gastrointestinal endoscopy units: An international survey of endoscopists
Journal
Arab Journal of Gastroenterology
Journal Volume
21
Journal Issue
3
Pages
156-161
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Alboraie M.
Piscoya A.
Tran Q.T.
Mendelsohn R.B.
Butt A.S.
Lenz L.
Alavinejad P.
Emara M.H.
Samlani Z.
Altonbary A.
Monged A.
Lemmers A.
Sudovykh I.
Ho D.Q.D.
Ghazanfar S.
Kamau E.
Iqbal S.
Tan D.M.Y.
Vignesh S.
On behalf of The Global Endo-COVID working group
Abstract
Background & study aims: Corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has markedly impacted routine medical services including gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. We aim to report the real-life performance in high volume GI endoscopy units during the pandemic. Patients and methods: A web-based survey covering all aspects of daily performance in GI endoscopy units was sent to endoscopy units worldwide. Responses were collected and data were analyzed to reveal the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on endoscopy practice. Results: Participants from 48 countries (n = 163) responded to the survey with response rate of 67.35%. The majority (85%) decreased procedure volume by over 50%, and four endoscopy units (2.45%) completely stopped. The top three indications for procedures included upper GI bleeding (89.6%), lower GI bleeding (65.6%) and cholangitis (62.6%). The majority (93.9%) triaged patients for COVID-19 prior to procedure. N95 masks were used in (57.1%), isolation gowns in (74.2%) and head covers in (78.5%). Most centers (65%) did not extend use of N95 masks, however 50.9% of centers reused N95 masks. Almost all (91.4%) centers used standard endoscopic decontamination and most (69%) had no negative pressure rooms. Forty-two centers (25.8%) reported positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients and 50 (30.7%) centers reported positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection among their healthcare workers. Conclusions: Most GI endoscopy centers had a significant reduction in their volume and most procedures performed were urgent. Most centers used the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) by GI societies however there is still a possibility of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in GI endoscopy units. ? 2020 Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology
Subjects
Cholangitis; COVID-19; Gastrointestinal endoscopy; Hematemesis; SARS-CoV-2
SDGs
Other Subjects
Article; capsule endoscopy; cholangitis; colonoscopy; coronavirus disease 2019; decontamination; emergency health service; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; endoscopist; esophagogastroduodenoscopy; gastrointestinal endoscopy; health care survey; high volume hospital; hospital infection; human; lower gastrointestinal tract; manometry; pandemic; priority journal; upper gastrointestinal bleeding; Betacoronavirus; clinical practice; Coronavirus infection; gastrointestinal endoscopy; infection control; organization and management; pandemic; patient selection; questionnaire; virus pneumonia; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Facilities and Services Utilization; Humans; Infection Control; Pandemics; Patient Selection; Pneumonia, Viral; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Surveys and Questionnaires
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Type
journal article