[Complications in 39,397 endoscopic studies--a 7-year prospective documentation on method and incidence]

All complications of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures from Feb. 1, 1982, to Jan. 31, 1989, at the Medical Department I of the Ludwigsburg hospital were reviewed. Complications occurred in 0.02% of all esophago-gastroduodenoscopies, in 0.09% of all endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreaticographies and in 0.05% of all colonoscopies. Rectos-copies and laparoscopies have to date been performed without complications. For therapeutic endoscopic procedures, the incidence of complications varies depending on the type of procedure performed. In 1.2% of gastric polypectomies, in 0.52% of colonic polypectomies and in 2.22% after endoscopic papillotomy complications occurred. In summary, both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy with adequate training can be considered as very safe procedures and only rarely leading to complications or death.