[Open acess to endoscopy in a tertiary referal center]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopic procedures
• Healthcare systems

Context:

• Open access endoscopy, where procedures are performed without prior specialist consultation, is prevalent in the US and Europe but less common in Mexico.
• The utility of open access endoscopy has been debated, with some indications for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) not aligning with established guidelines.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the yield and appropriateness of open access endoscopy in a tertiary care hospital in Mexico.
• To assess the concordance of UGE indications with the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guidelines.
• To determine the rate of relevant findings in both appropriate and inappropriate UGE procedures.

Summary:

• A 30-day study of 208 patients undergoing diagnostic UGE found that 81.2% of procedures were appropriate based on ASGE guidelines.
• Appropriate UGE yielded relevant findings in 75% of cases, while inappropriate UGE had relevant findings in 59% (p < 0.05).
• A significant number of relevant findings were observed even in procedures not strictly adhering to ASGE guidelines, suggesting their value.

Impact:

• The study supports the clinical utility of open access endoscopy in the Mexican healthcare setting.
• Findings suggest that while ASGE guidelines are valuable, they may not encompass all clinically relevant indications for UGE.
• The results advocate for the continued use and potential expansion of open access endoscopy services in Mexico.