The proposed algorithm for emergency endoscopy during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic created significant challenges for performing emergency endoscopy.
• Lack of established guidelines for emergency endoscopy in tertiary hospitals during the pandemic.
• High rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a practical algorithm for emergency endoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers during endoscopic procedures.
• To provide a guideline for tertiary hospitals facing similar public health crises.

Main Methods:

• Development of a streamlined algorithm for emergency endoscopy.
• Implementation of the algorithm in a tertiary hospital setting.
• Retrospective analysis of 130 emergency endoscopy cases performed during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

Main Results:

• The algorithm facilitated safe and efficient emergency endoscopy for 130 patients.
• No endoscopy-related infections were reported among patients or medical staff.
• The algorithm proved effective in managing bleeding, foreign body, and impending cholangitis cases.

Conclusions:

• A simple, streamlined algorithm can effectively guide emergency endoscopy during a viral outbreak.
• The developed algorithm successfully prevented endoscopy-related infections, safeguarding patients and healthcare workers.
• This approach offers a valuable model for other institutions during pandemics.