A 12 years audit of upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy in terms of indications, diagnostic efficacy, and diseases diagnosed.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational case series.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

DHQ Teaching Hospital, Rawalpindi, from March 1990 to December 2001.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy in 12 years were included. Upper GI endoscopies were performed according to standard protocol. Endoscopic diagnoses were based on widely accepted criteria.

RESULTS

Of the 8481 patients, 4935 (58.2%) were female and 3546 (41.8%) male. Mean patient age was 40.5 years. Dyspepsia (42.6%), upper GI bleed (32.8%), and evaluation of chronic liver disease (10.2%) were common indications of the procedure. An endoscopic diagnosis was possible in 82.6% patients. Varices, gastritis, duodenitis, and combined lesions were common endoscopic diagnosis. Gastritis and duodenitis were most frequent causes of upper GI bleed. We noted more gastric ulcers compared to duodenal ulcers. Females had significantly more normal endoscopies, p-value=0.02.

CONCLUSION

Upper GI endoscopy is an effective procedure. Dyspepsia evaluation is commonest indication for upper GI endoscopy in our patients. Etiology of upper GI bleed, and incidence of duodenal ulcer compared to gastric ulcer in our patients are different than described in literature. Females have significantly more normal endoscopies.