The EPAGE guidelines are not an effective strategy for managing colonoscopies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has had a serious impact on the functioning of gastrointestinal endoscopy Units. The Asociación Española de Gastroenterología (AEG) and the Sociedad Española de Endoscopia Digestiva (SEED) have proposed the EPAGE guidelines for managing postponed colonoscopies.

Objective

To evaluate the EPAGE guidelines as a management tool compared to the immunologic faecal occult blood test (iFOBT) and compared to risk score (RS) that combines age, sex and the iFOBT for the detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) and significant bowel disease (SBD).

Methods

A prospective, single-centre study enrolling 743 symptomatic patients referred for a diagnostic colonoscopy. Each order was classified according to the EPAGE guidelines as app

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez-Alonso L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8054645 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature