Background: There is insufficient published research on inpatient endoscopy, despite its ubiquity. This available research concerns increased length of stay, poor bowel preparation and a potential increase in readmission. Due to an increase in inpatient endoscopy procedures, concerns were raised locally querying the appropriateness of indications. The primary outcome of the research evaluated indications, diagnostic efficacy, and safety of inpatient endoscopy. Methods: A retrospective chart review of inpatient endoscopy was performed for one calendar year. All gastrointestinal (GI) inpatient endoscopy procedures were included. Non-GI endoscopy (cystoscopy, bronchoscopy) and outpatient procedures were excluded. Assessment of the validity of indication was compared against the Health Service Executive (HSE) Triage Guidance for Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Procedures. Secondary outcomes will be extracted from the charts and input to MS excel for analysis. Results: Total inpatient endoscopy procedures: 135, average age 66 years. With the elderly patients, a significant number were nursing home residents, 7, and patients who died within the study period, 19. Appropriateness of indication compared to HSE guidance: 22.73%. Diagnostic yield: 21.48% Conclusions: Our research has shown a significant amount of inpatient endoscopy procedures may be more suited to an outpatient setting or may be unnecessary. We found that when performed, the inpatient endoscopy did not result in an explanatory diagnosis to the patient's presentation. The results highlighted the need for local interventions to improve the service and better utilise the invaluable resource of endoscopy.
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Beattie et al. (2024) studied this question.
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