Endoscopy and General Surgery - Parts of the Same Activity

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Endoscopy
• Medical Education

Background:

• Accurate diagnosis and treatment in surgery necessitate continuous access to endoscopy.
• Surgical clinics increasingly establish dedicated endoscopy units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the inclusion of board-certified endoscopic surgeons in all surgical departments.
• To highlight the benefits of in-house surgical endoscopy units.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the endoscopic unit's activity at "Dr. I. Cantacuzino" Clinical Hospital since 2007.
• Evaluation of patient accessibility and physician support provided by the unit.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in endoscopic procedures from 137 (2007) to 1546 (2015) with 7 surgeons operating 24/7.
• Endoscopy proved beneficial in diagnosing gastrointestinal hemorrhages, detecting tumors, and follow-up of oncologic patients.
• Surgeons gained practical skills and certification for managing endoscopic complications.

Conclusions:

• An increased number of surgeons with endoscopy board certification is highly beneficial.
• Integrating a digestive endoscopy module into general surgery training programs is recommended.