General anesthetic versus light sedation: effect on pediatric endoscopy wait times

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Health Services Research
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Healthcare wait times are critical indicators of system efficiency.
• Limited research exists on pediatric gastroenterology wait times, particularly for endoscopy.
• General anesthesia for pediatric endoscopy may increase wait times due to anesthetic resource limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare pediatric endoscopy wait times based on sedation type (light sedation vs. general anesthesia).
• To assess if extended wait times correlate with adverse clinical outcomes in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients (<18 years) undergoing elective endoscopy.
• Data collected from January 2006 to December 2007 at McMaster Children's Hospital.
• Primary outcome: time from clinic visit to endoscopy date; secondary outcomes: emergency visits, hospital admissions.

Main Results:

• Median wait time was significantly longer for general anesthesia (64 days) versus light sedation (22 days) (P<0.0001).
• No significant differences in pre- or post-endoscopy emergency room visits or hospital admissions between groups.
• Pediatric anesthetic resource limitations contribute to extended endoscopy wait times.

Conclusions:

• General anesthesia for pediatric endoscopy is associated with longer wait times compared to light sedation.
• These extended wait times did not result in adverse clinical outcomes for the studied pediatric population.
• Addressing pediatric anesthetic resource availability is crucial for optimizing endoscopy wait times.