Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Risk of Complications [1]

Introduction

An endoscopic procedure is considered appropriate if the benefit for the patient exceeds the risks by a sufficiently wide margin that endoscopy is worth performing.

In November 1998, a multidisciplinary European expert panel convened in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss and develop criteria for the appropriate use of gastrointestinal endoscopy, a widely-used procedure, regarded as highly accurate and safe. A detailed description of the RAND appropriateness method, including the literature search process [2], and of the whole process, as well as the global results of the panel [1], are published as separate articles in this issue of the Journal.

The present article on complications of gastrointestinal endoscopy summarises the risks associated with upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. For this purpose, a literature review was conducted, based on a systematic search of Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library conducted up to the end of 1997 and completed with some key articles published in 1998. Updating and revision of the literature review is currently ongoing.

1 The European Panel on Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (EPAGE, Lausanne, Switzerland)

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1 The European Panel on Appropriateness of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (EPAGE, Lausanne, Switzerland)