Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the time to endoscopy in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleedin.

INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, endoscopic procedures are associated with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, in cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), priority should be given to an early endoscopy. OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to compare the time since arrival at the hospital and the performance of the endoscopy between both groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study. Data contains information of patients who attended to the hospital with UGIB and underwent an endoscopy between October 19th, 2019 and June 6th, 2020. Patients were divided into 2 phases: pre-pandemic and pandemic. The time between arrival at the hospital and the performance of the endoscopy in both phases were compared as well as other indicators such hospital stay and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: With information from 219 patients, the median age was 69 years. 154 and 65 endoscopies were performed in pre-pandemic and pandemic phase, respectively. The time between arrival at the hospital and the performance of the endoscopy was significantly longer during the pandemic (10.00 vs. 13.08 hours, p-value = 0.019). Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in hospital stay or mortality. CONCLUSION: The management of patients with UGIB during the COVID-19 pandemic is complex and requires the application of clinical judgment to decide the best timing to perform an endoscopy without affecting patient care.

[Adherence to institutional clinical practice guideline on managing upper gastrointestinal bleeding, in a hospital in Lima - Peru]. / Adherencia a la guía de práctica clínica institucional sobre hemorragia digestiva alta, en un hospital de Lima - Perú.

INTRODUCTION: In 2018, the Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the Evaluation and Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) was published by the Social Security of Peru (EsSalud). It provides evidence-based statements to optimize the management of these patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adherence to the statements of the CPG at the Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital (HNERM) of EsSalud (Lima, Peru). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study, which analyzed the database of all patients who came to the HNERM emergency service with suspected UGB and were scheduled for endoscopy between October 19, 2019 and April 15, 2020. We included those with ≥ 18 years of age. This database contains the main characteristics of the standardized medical history for patients with UGB. Compliance with 13 of the 34 statements of the EsSalud CPG was evaluated. The results were presented descriptively, and the factors associated with compliance with the statements with insufficient adherence (<80%) and with more than 100 evaluated participants were evaluated. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 184 patients who met the inclusion criteria (men: 59.8%, median age: 70 years). The range of adherence to the 13 statements was from 63.2% to 99.5%. Only two statements had insufficient adherence (<80%). The statement with the least adherence was the recommendation to perform a restrictive transfusion. Noncompliance with this recommendation was found to be lower in those who had a higher score on the Glasgow-Blatchford index, a urea creatinine ratio > 60, and a lower hemoglobin on admission. CONCLUSION: Of the 13 statements evaluated, 11 had satisfactory adherence. It is important to explore the reasons why adherence is not adequate for some statements, and to evaluate methods to increase this adherence.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the time to endoscopy in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding / Impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en el tiempo hasta la endoscopia en pacientes con hemorragia digestiva alta

ABSTRACT Introduction : During the COVID-19 pandemic, endoscopic procedures are associated with a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, in cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), priority should be given to an early endoscopy. Objective : The main objective was to compare the time since arrival at the hospital and the performance of the endoscopy between both groups. Materials and methods : We performed a retrospective study. Data contains information of patients who attended to the hospital with UGIB and underwent an endoscopy between October 19th, 2019 and June 6th, 2020. Patients were divided into 2 phases: pre-pandemic and pandemic. The time between arrival at the hospital and the performance of the endoscopy in both phases were compared as well as other indicators such hospital stay and in-hospital mortality. Results : With information from 219 patients, the median age was 69 years. 154 and 65 endoscopies were performed in pre-pandemic and pandemic phase, respectively. The time between arrival at the hospital and the performance of the endoscopy was significantly longer during the pandemic (10.00 vs. 13.08 hours, p-value = 0.019). Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in hospital stay or mortality. Conclusion : The management of patients with UGIB during the COVID-19 pandemic is complex and requires the application of clinical judgment to decide the best timing to perform an endoscopy without affecting patient care.

RESUMEN Introducción : Durante la pandemia de COVID-19, los procedimientos endoscópicos se asocian con un alto riesgo de infección por SARS-CoV-2. Sin embargo, en casos de hemorragia digestiva alta (HDA), se debe dar prioridad a una endoscopia precoz. Objetivo : El objetivo principal fue comparar el tiempo transcurrido desde la llegada al hospital y la realización de la endoscopia entre ambos grupos. Materiales y métodos : Realizamos un estudio retrospectivo. Los datos contienen información de pacientes que acudieron al hospital con HDA y fueron sometidos a endoscopia entre el 19 de octubre de 2019 y el 6 de junio de 2020. Los pacientes se dividieron en 2 fases: prepandémica y pandémica. Se comparó el tiempo transcurrido entre la llegada al hospital y la realización de la endoscopia en ambas fases, así como otros indicadores como la estancia hospitalaria y la mortalidad intrahospitalaria. Resultados : Con información de 219 pacientes, la mediana de edad fue de 69 años. Se realizaron 154 y 65 endoscopias en fase prepandémica y pandémica, respectivamente. El tiempo entre la llegada al hospital y la realización de la endoscopia fue significativamente mayor durante la pandemia (10,00 frente a 13,08 horas, valor de p = 0,019). Sin embargo, no hubo diferencias significativas en la estancia hospitalaria ni en la mortalidad. Conclusión : El manejo de pacientes con HDA durante la pandemia de COVID-19 es complejo y requiere la aplicación del juicio clínico para decidir el mejor momento para realizar una endoscopia sin afectar la atención del paciente.

Adherencia a la guía de práctica clínica institucional sobre hemorragia digestiva alta, en un hospital de Lima - Perú / Adherence to institutional clinical practice guideline on managing upper gastrointestinal bleeding, in a hospital in Lima - Peru

RESUMEN Introducción : El año 2018 se publicó la Guía de práctica clínica (GPC) para la evaluación y el manejo de la hemorragia digestiva alta (HDA) del Seguro Social de Salud del Perú (EsSalud). Esta emite enunciados basados en evidencias, que buscan optimizar el manejo de estos pacientes. Objetivo : Evaluar la adherencia a los enunciados de dicha GPC en el Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM) de EsSalud (Lima, Perú). Materiales y métodos : Estudio retrospectivo, que analizó la base de datos de todos los pacientes que acudieron al servicio de emergencia del HNERM con sospecha de HDA y fueron programados para endoscopía entre el 19 de octubre del 2019 y el 15 de abril del 2020. Se incluyó a aquellos con ≥ 18 años de edad. Esta base contiene las principales características de la historia clínica estandarizada para pacientes con HDA. Se evaluó el cumplimiento de 13 de los 34 enunciados de la GPC de EsSalud. Los resultados se presentaron descriptivamente, y se evaluaron los factores asociados al cumplimiento de los enunciados con inadecuada adherencia (< 80%) y con más de 100 participantes evaluados. Resultados : Se obtuvieron datos de 184 pacientes que cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión (varones: 59,8%, mediana de edad: 70 años). El rango de adherencia a los 13 enunciados fue de 63,2% a 99,5%. Sólo dos enunciados tuvieron adherencia inadecuada (<80%). El enunciado con menor adherencia fue la recomendación de realizar transfusión restrictiva. Se encontró que el cumplimiento de esta recomendación fue menor en quienes tuvieron mayor puntaje en el índice de Glasgow-Blatchford, relación urea creatinina > 60, y menor hemoglobina al ingreso. Conclusión : De los 13 enunciados evaluados, 11 tuvieron una adherencia adecuada. Resulta importante profundizar en los motivos por los cuales la adherencia no es adecuada para algunos enunciados, y valorar estrategias para aumentar esta adherencia.

ABSTRACT Introduction : In 2018, the Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the Evaluation and Management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) was published by the Social Security of Peru (EsSalud). It provides evidence-based statements to optimize the management of these patients. Objective : To evaluate the adherence to the statements of the CPG at the Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital (HNERM) of EsSalud (Lima, Peru). Materials and methods : Retrospective study, which analyzed the database of all patients who came to the HNERM emergency service with suspected UGB and were scheduled for endoscopy between October 19, 2019 and April 15, 2020. We included those with ≥ 18 years of age. This database contains the main characteristics of the standardized medical history for patients with UGB. Compliance with 13 of the 34 statements of the EsSalud CPG was evaluated. The results were presented descriptively, and the factors associated with compliance with the statements with insufficient adherence (<80%) and with more than 100 evaluated participants were evaluated. Results : Data were obtained from 184 patients who met the inclusion criteria (men: 59.8%, median age: 70 years). The range of adherence to the 13 statements was from 63.2% to 99.5%. Only two statements had insufficient adherence (<80%). The statement with the least adherence was the recommendation to perform a restrictive transfusion. Noncompliance with this recommendation was found to be lower in those who had a higher score on the Glasgow-Blatchford index, a urea creatinine ratio > 60, and a lower hemoglobin on admission. Conclusion : Of the 13 statements evaluated, 11 had satisfactory adherence. It is important to explore the reasons why adherence is not adequate for some statements, and to evaluate methods to increase this adherence.