ABSTRACT
Aims The unprecedented situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected endoscopic practice inregard to access, volume, and workflow. We aimed to assess the potential changes in the technical outcomes of ERCPprocedures carried out in patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods We conducted an international, multicenter, retrospective, matched case-control study of ERCP procedures carriedout in patients with confirmed COVID-19. The main outcome was technical success of the procedure as assessed by theendoscopist, and the secondary outcome was the development of procedure-related adverse events. Each case wasmatched in a 1:4 ratio with controls extracted from each center's database in order to identify relevant changes in outcomemeasures compared to the pre-pandemic era. Results Eighteen procedures performed in 16 COVID-19 patients (14 men, 65 years (9-82)) between the 15th of Marchand the 1st of July 2020 and 67 matched controls were included in the final analysis. Technical success was achieved in14/18 procedures in COVID-19 cases, which was significantly lower as compared to the control group (14/18 vs. 64/67, p=0.034), with an endoscopic reintervention required in 9/18 cases. However, the rate of procedure-related adverse eventswas low in both groups (1/18 vs. 10/67, p=0.44). On multivariable analysis COVID-19 status remained the only risk factorfor technical failure of the procedure (OR of 19.9 (95 %CI 1.4-269)).
ABSTRACT
Aims SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) is a major challenge for the healthcare system and physicians, imposing changes indaily clinical activity. We aimed to describe what European trainees and young gastroenterologists know about COVID-19and identify training gaps to implement educational programs. Methods A prospective web-based electronic survey was developed and distributed via e-mail to all members of the ItalianYoung Gastroenterologist and Endoscopist Association and to European representatives. Results One hundred and ninety-seven subjects participated in the survey, of whom 14 (7.1 %) were excluded. Themajority were gastroenterologists in training (123, 67.7 %) working in institutions with COVID-19 inpatients (159, 86.9 %),aged ≤30 years (113, 61.8 %). The activity of Gastroenterology Units was restricted to emergency visits and endoscopy,with reductions of activities of up to 90 %. 84.5 % of participants felt that the COVID-19 outbreak impacted on theirtraining, due to unavailability of mentors (52.6 %) and interruption of trainee's involvement (66.4 %). Most participantsreferred absence of training on the use of personal protective equipment, oxygen ventilation systems and COVID-19therapies. Conclusions COVID-19 outbreak significantly impacted on gastroenterologists' clinical activity. The resources currentlydeployed are inadequate, and therefore educational interventions to address this gap are warranted in the next future.