Characteristics of the endoscopic procedures performed in a hybrid tertiary-level hospital during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many changes in gastrointestinal endoscopy units.

Aim

To describe the changes that occurred in a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit of a hybrid hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods

We performed a retrospective study of endoscopies performed in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected and described the data of interest to the study, which is presented with numbers and percentages or measures of central tendency and dispersion as appropriate. Fisher's exact test or the χ2 test were used as appropriate.

Results

A total of 507 procedures were performed. There was a 92.5% reduction in the performance of endoscopic procedures. In all, 77 (15%) procedures were performed on patients with COVID-19. The most frequent procedures were esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The main indications were gastrointestinal bleeding, placement of enteral accesses, and alterations in the biliary and pancreatic ducts. Of these, 37 (48%) were therapeutic. Patients with COVID-19 were more susceptible to the development of complications.

Conclusions

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of endoscopic procedures performed decreased significantly. The procedures most often required were EGD, colonoscopy, and ERCP, mainly indicated by gastrointestinal bleeding, placement of enteral accesses, and alterations of the bile and pancreatic ducts.