Complications Of Endoscopic Ultrasound of the Upper GI Tract

Aims The aim of this retrospective trial is to show complications of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) of the upper GI tract. The data of complications of EUS in Southeastern Europe do not exist.

Methods In our study we included all patients with performed EUS of the upper part of the GI tract in the period from 01.01.2009. until 30.6.2020. Most patients were sedated with midazolam. Patients who underwent EUS-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) of cyst were prescribed antibiotic prophylaxis. We observed all patients for at least 2 hours after the procedure and we observed patients with complications for at least 48 hours after the development of complications.

Results In the eleven and a half year period (from 01.01.2009 to 30.6.2020), 6384 patients who underwent EUS of the upper GI tract were analyzed.

In 5433 patients diagnostic endosonographie procedures without any intervention were done. EUS with invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures was performed in 951 (14.9 %) patients.

FNA was performed in 833 (87.6 %) patients, EUS-guided Fine-Needle Biopsy (FNB) was performed in 92 (9.7 %) patients, plastic stent implantation was performed in 6 (0.6 %) patients, and lumen-apposing stent implantation (Axios) was performed in 20 (2.1 %) patients.

In one patient, perforation of the proximal third of the esophagus occurred (0.02 %).

Bleeding as a complication occurred in 7 (0.73 %) patients, mild form of acute pancreatitis developed in 4 (0.42 %) patients, sepsis developed in 6 (0.63 %) patients, cyst inflammation developed in 2 (0.2 %) patients and stent migration developed in one (3.8 %) patient.

The overall mortality of non-interventional and interventional endosonographic procedures was 0,1 %(one patient died of sepsis).

Conclusions (EUS) of the upper GI tract is a safe diagnostic and therapeutic technique with rare complications that are predominantly associated with invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Citation: Budimir I, Pavić T, Baršić N etal. eP285 COMPLICATIONS OF ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND OF THE UPPER GI TRACT. Endoscopy 2021; 53: S191.

Publication History

Article published online:
19 March 2021