[Endoscopic studies of the digestive tract as a service for family practitioners; experience in the Eindhoven area]

In May 1989 an open access endoscopy service for general practitioners (GPs) was started in the region of Eindhoven. In the four hospitals covering a population of 500,000 inhabitants, served by 200 GPs, uniform working agreements were made. We evaluated the endoscopies performed in 1990 and compared the total number of endoscopies with that of gastrointestinal X-rays. A total of 996 open access gastroscopies were performed. The most important diagnoses were: peptic ulcer (19%), oesophagitis (16%), bulbitis (9%) and carcinoma (1.5%). The diagnostic yield was 57%. A total of 509 GP-referred sigmoidoscopies were performed. The most important diagnoses were: haemorrhoids and anal fissure (28%), colitis (15%), diverticulosis (12%), neoplastic polyps (11%) and carcinoma (4%). The diagnostic yield was 77%. Compared with 1989 the total number of gastroscopies, requested by GPs and by specialists, increased by 15% of which two-thirds were requested by the GPs. In this period the reduction of barium meals was 11% which was almost exclusively due to the specialist group. Sigmoidoscopies increased by 7%, entirely due to the GP group. The number of barium enemas remained constant. Open access endoscopy resulted in an increase endoscopies with only a partial substitution of radiological examinations. The increase in endoscopic examinations in the GP group did not result in a decline in the specialist group. The total diagnostic yield was 64%.