Assessment of Video Capsule Endoscopy in the Management of Acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Evaluation of acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding using invasive endoscopic procedures comprising the standard of care (SOC)-upper endoscopy and colonoscopy-can expose the endoscopy staff to SARS-CoV-2. Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) does not generate aerosols and only requires 1 person to manage the procedure.

Objective

To examine the safety of VCE for the initial evaluation of GI bleeding at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to identify signs of active bleeding while minimizing patient and personnel exposure, saving personal protective equipment, and avoiding invasive or unnecessary procedures.

Design, setting, and participants

A multicenter (UMass Memorial Medical Center and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center) retrospective cohort study in

SUBMITTER: Hakimian S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8325069 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature