THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND PROCEDURES IN A HIGH-VOLUME ENDOSCOPY UNIT IN BRAZIL.

•In pancreatic neoplasms the EUS plays a key role in the management. •During the pandemic period, lockdown measures prevented patients with comorbidities from performing EUS. •The D-EUS decreased during COVID-19, while I-EUS increased and EUS-TA was the most commonly I-EUS procedure performed, with no increase in adverse events. •Despite the moderate impact of the pandemic period in endoscopic services around the world, EUS-TA of solid and cystic tumors of the pancreas was the main indication. Background - Reports of the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic period/2020 on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are scarce. Objective - We analyzed the impact of the pandemic period/2020 on the demographics, indications, and number of diagnostic EUS (D-EUS) and interventional EUS (I-EUS) procedures performed in a high-volume endoscopy unit compared with the previous non-pandemic period/2019. Methods - We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients undergoing D-EUS or I-EUS from March 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020 (non-pandemic period/2019) and from March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021 (pandemic period/2020). Data compared between the study periods included sex, age, comorbidities, EUS findings and diagnosis, need for interventional procedures during EUS, and adverse events (AEs). Results were significant at P<0.05. Results - EUS procedures decreased from 475 in the non-pandemic period/2019 to 289 in the pandemic period/2020, accounting for a 39% reduction. In non-pandemic period/2019, 388 (81.7%) D-EUS and 88 (18.5%) I-EUS were performed, against 206 (71.3%) D-EUS and 83 (28.7%) I-EUS in pandemic period/2020 (P=0.001). Only 5/289 (1.7%) patients had COVID-19. Fewer patients with comorbidities underwent EUS during pandemic period/2020 due to lockdown measures (P<0.001). D-EUS decreased, whereas I-EUS increased (P<0.001). EUS-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) was the most common I-EUS, performed in 83/289 (28.7%) patients in pandemic period/2020, against 88/475 (18.5%) in non-pandemic period/2019 (P=0.001). AEs did not differ significantly between the study periods. Conclusion - Pandemic Period/2020 had a moderate impact on reducing EUS procedures due to the risks involved. Although I-EUS increased, EUS-related AEs did not. Solid and cystic pancreatic tumors remained a major indication for EUS-TA even during the pandemic period/2020.

Impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 nos procedimentos de ultrassonografia endoscópica em uma unidade de endoscopia de alto volume no Brasil / The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on endoscopic ultrasound procedures in a high-volume endoscopy unit in brazil

ABSTRACT Background: Reports of the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic period/2020 on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are scarce. Objective: We analyzed the impact of the pandemic period/2020 on the demographics, indications, and number of diagnostic EUS (D-EUS) and interventional EUS (I-EUS) procedures performed in a high-volume endoscopy unit compared with the previous non-pandemic period/2019. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients undergoing D-EUS or I-EUS from March 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020 (non-pandemic period/2019) and from March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021 (pandemic period/2020). Data compared between the study periods included sex, age, comorbidities, EUS findings and diagnosis, need for interventional procedures during EUS, and adverse events (AEs). Results were significant at P<0.05. Results: EUS procedures decreased from 475 in the non-pandemic period/2019 to 289 in the pandemic period/2020, accounting for a 39% reduction. In non-pandemic period/2019, 388 (81.7%) D-EUS and 88 (18.5%) I-EUS were performed, against 206 (71.3%) D-EUS and 83 (28.7%) I-EUS in pandemic period/2020 (P=0.001). Only 5/289 (1.7%) patients had COVID-19. Fewer patients with comorbidities underwent EUS during pandemic period/2020 due to lockdown measures (P<0.001). D-EUS decreased, whereas I-EUS increased (P<0.001). EUS-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) was the most common I-EUS, performed in 83/289 (28.7%) patients in pandemic period/2020, against 88/475 (18.5%) in non-pandemic period/2019 (P=0.001). AEs did not differ significantly between the study periods. Conclusion: Pandemic Period/2020 had a moderate impact on reducing EUS procedures due to the risks involved. Although I-EUS increased, EUS-related AEs did not. Solid and cystic pancreatic tumors remained a major indication for EUS-TA even during the pandemic period/2020.

RESUMO Contexto: Os dados sobre o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 2020 na ultrassonografia endoscópica (EUS) são escassos. Objetivo: Analisamos o impacto do período pandêmico/2020 na demografia, indicações e número das EUS diagnósticas (D-EUS) e intervencionistas EUS (I-EUS) realizados em uma unidade de endoscopia de alto volume e os comparamos com o período imediatamente anterior não-pandêmico/2019. Métodos: Revisamos retrospectivamente os prontuários de todos os pacientes submetidos a D-EUS ou I-EUS de 1 de março de 2019 a 29 de fevereiro de 2020 (período não-pandêmico/2019) e de 1º de março de 2020 a 28 de fevereiro de 2021 (período da pandemia/2020). Comparamos os dados entre os períodos do estudo incluímos o sexo, idade, comorbidades, achados e diagnóstico da EUS, necessidade de procedimentos intervencionistas durante a EUS e a ocorrência de eventos adversos (EAs). Os resultados foram significativos com P<0,05. Resultados: O número de ecoendoscopias diminuíram de 475 no período não-pandêmico/2019 para 289 no período pandêmico/2020, representando uma redução de 39%. No período não-pandêmico/2019 e pandêmico/2020 foram realizados 388 (81,7%) D-EUS e 88 (18,5%) I-EUS, contra 206 (71,3%) D-EUS e 83 (28,7%) I-EUS, respectivamente (P=0,001). Apenas 5/289 (1,7%) pacientes tinham COVID-19. Menos pacientes com comorbidades realizaram EUS durante o período pandêmico/2020 devido as medidas de bloqueio (P<0,001). D-EUS diminuiu, enquanto I-EUS aumentou (P<0,001). A EUS associada a aquisição tecidual (EUS-AT) foi a I-EUS mais comum, realizada em 83/289 (28,7%) pacientes no período pandêmico/2020, versus 88/475 (18,5%) no período não-pandêmico/2019 (P=0,001). Os EAs não diferiram significativamente entre os períodos do estudo. Conclusão: O período da pandemia/2020 teve impacto moderado na redução da EUS devido aos riscos envolvidos. Embora o I-EUS tenha aumentado, os EAs relacionados ao EUS não aumentaram. Os tumores pancreáticos sólidos e císticos permaneceram como uma das principais indicações para EUS-AT mesmo durante o período pandêmico/2020.