Indications and Diagnostic Yield of Pediatric Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in an Adult Endoscopy Suite: Retrospective Study from a Suburban Private Clinic from Chennai

Introduction: An inequitable distribution of pediatric gastroenterology units has led to pediatric endoscopies being done by endoscopists from other fields in adult endoscopy units rather than by pediatric gastroenterologists. Studies on pediatric endoscopy in adult endoscopy units from nontertiary hospitals are scarce. This study aims to evaluate the clinical indications and endoscopy yield of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy performed in children (<18 years) in an adult endoscopy suite of a suburban private healthcare clinic. Materials and Methods: Retrospective, observational study of children who underwent UGI endoscopy between 2010 and 2024. Data from electronic medical records on demographics, clinical details, endoscopic findings, and immediate complications were collected and analyzed. Results: Seventy-eight children were aged between 4 and 18 years, with the majority 57 (73.07%), in the 12–18 years age group. The mean age was 14.22 ± 3.65 years. Seventy-three (93.59%) children underwent diagnostic endoscopy. Abdominal pain (chronic abdominal pain and ulcer-type pain) and vomiting were the most common indications (64.11%). Endoscopic yield was 88.5% (69/78). The stomach was the most affected site. Gastritis and esophagitis were the most common findings. Corrosive ingestion and inflammatory bowel disease were less common, and rarely, malignancies. Therapeutic endoscopy included foreign body retrieval and ulcer-related bleeds. There were no procedure- or anesthesia-related events. Conclusions: Mean age of children undergoing endoscopy in adult endoscopy suites is above 10 years. Following Pediatric Society guidelines avoids endoscopies for unnecessary indications. Endoscopic yield and diagnosis vary and are affected by the ability of the adult endoscopy unit to handle younger children, in which cases a pediatrician must be included.