Related Experiment Videos
Acute cardiovascular complications of endoscopy: prevalence and clinical characteristics
J G Lee1, J W Leung, P B Cotton
1Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C., USA.
Insights
Acute cardiovascular complications during endoscopy are rare, affecting 0.14% of patients. Serious events primarily occurred in those with pre-existing heart conditions, indicating a generally safe procedure for most.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Medical Informatics
Background:
- Endoscopic procedures are common diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
- Understanding potential risks, such as cardiovascular events, is crucial for patient safety.
- Previous data on the incidence and characteristics of these complications is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of acute cardiovascular complications associated with endoscopy.
- To describe the clinical features and outcomes of patients experiencing these events.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a computerized database of endoscopic procedures.
- Identification of acute cardiovascular complications from medical records.
- Review of patient histories, pre-endoscopy ECGs, and follow-up data.
Main Results:
- A total of 31 acute cardiovascular complications (0.14%) occurred in 21,946 endoscopic procedures.
- Complications included vasovagal reactions, supraventricular tachycardia, myocardial infarction, and congestive heart failure.
- Most affected patients had known coronary artery disease or exertional angina; serious events were linked to underlying heart disease.
Conclusions:
- Acute cardiovascular complications of endoscopy are infrequent and typically self-limited.
- Serious complications are rare and predominantly observed in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
- Endoscopy appears to be a safe procedure concerning cardiovascular events for the general population.
Abstract:
We sought to determine the prevalence of acute cardiovascular complications of endoscopy and to describe the clinical features associated with such events. Acute cardiovascular complications were identified from a computerized database of all endoscopies performed at our institution, and their clinical histories were abstracted from the medical records. Of 21,946 endoscopic procedures performed between August 1, 1988, and December 31, 1992, 9 women and 22 men (0.14%) developed acute cardiovascular complications including vasovagal reaction (24), supraventricular tachycardia (4), myocardial infarction (2) and congestive heart failure (1). Fourteen patients had underlying coronary artery disease and 4 others exertional angina; 20 of 25 electrocardiograms available before the endoscopy were abnormal. Twenty patients required treatment during endoscopy, but only 3 needed continued therapy. One patient died of a periprocedural acute myocardial infarction. Seven (23%) patients experienced additional cardiac events during the follow-up period of 21.8 +/- 15.8 months. In conclusion, acute cardiovascular complications of endoscopy are infrequent and usually self-limited; serious complications occurred exclusively in the setting of known underlying heart disease.