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A Nationwide Survey on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Practice Patterns among Pediatric Endoscopists in South Korea
Yoo Min Lee1, Yoon Lee2, So Yoon Choi3
1Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
Insights
Pediatric gastroenterologists in South Korea commonly perform standard gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopies. However, advanced procedures like double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are rare in pediatric practice.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Background:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is crucial for diagnosing and treating pediatric GI diseases.
- Understanding current practice patterns is essential for optimizing care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the current GI endoscopy practice patterns among South Korean pediatric endoscopists.
- To identify the prevalence of common and advanced endoscopic procedures in pediatric care.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was developed by the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
- The survey was distributed to pediatric gastroenterologists in South Korean general and tertiary hospitals.
- A response rate of 86.7% was achieved.
Main Results:
- Most respondents (94.2%) perform endoscopy, with universal adoption of esophagogastroduodenoscopy and high rates of colonoscopy (87.8%).
- Advanced procedures like double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are performed infrequently by pediatric specialists (4.1%, 2.0%, 2.0% respectively).
- Sedation with midazolam and ketamine is standard practice, and 83.7% of respondents perform emergency endoscopy.
Conclusions:
- While common GI endoscopic procedures are widely performed, rare advanced procedures are concentrated in a few pediatric centers.
- Adult endoscopists frequently perform these rare procedures, highlighting the need for collaboration.
- Close communication and cooperation between pediatric and adult gastroenterologists are vital for managing complex cases requiring advanced endoscopic techniques.
Purpose:
Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is an important tool for diagnosing and treating GI diseases in children. This study aimed to analyze the current GI endoscopy practice patterns among South Korean pediatric endoscopists.
Methods:
Twelve members of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition developed a questionnaire. The questionnaire was emailed to pediatric gastroenterologists attending general and tertiary hospitals in South Korea.
Results:
The response rate was 86.7% (52/60), and 49 of the respondents (94.2%) were currently performing endoscopy. All respondents were performing esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and 43 (87.8%) were performing colonoscopy. Relatively rare procedures for children, such as double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) (4.1%), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (2.0%), and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) (2.0%), were only performed by pediatric gastroenterologists at very few centers, but were performed by adult endoscopists in most of the centers; of all the respondents, 83.7% (41/49) performed emergency endoscopy. In most centers, the majority of the endoscopies were performed under sedation, with midazolam (100.0%) and ketamine (67.3%) as the most frequently used sedatives.
Conclusion:
While most pediatric GI endoscopists perform common GI endoscopic procedures, rare procedures, such as DBE, ERCP, and EUS, are only performed by pediatric gastroenterologists at very few centers, and by adult GI endoscopists at most of the centers. For such rare procedures, close communication and cooperation with adult GI endoscopists are required.
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