Prospective analysis of complications 30 days after outpatient upper endoscopy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare complication rates reported by patients 30 days after outpatient upper endoscopy with those discussed at our monthly morbidity and mortality conference. We also intended to esta blish which complications were reported most frequently 30 days after upper endoscopy, and which patients or procedures involved the highest risk. METHODS: Trained interviewers performed standardized telephone interviews o n consecutive outpatients undergoing upper endoscopy over a l-yr period. Pa tients were queried regarding potential events related to their upper endos copy in the 30 days subsequent, including symptoms, emergency room (ER) and /or physician visits, and hospitalizations. The indications, findings, and therapies were reviewed from endoscopic reports. RESULTS: A total of 473 patients were contacted 30 days after outpatient up per endoscopy and agreed to participate in our study. The most common compl ications reported by patients at 30 days were sore throat (9.5%) and abdomi nal discomfort (5.3%). Twelve patients (2.5%) required an ER/physician visi t and five patients (1.1%) required hospitalization. The minority of both E R/physician visits (16.7%) and hospitalizations (40%) were discussed at our monthly morbidity and mortality conferences. CONCLUSIONS: More complications were reported by patients 30 days after out patient upper endoscopy than were discussed at our monthly morbidity and mo rtality conferences. The most frequent complications reported by patients w ere sore throat and abdominal pain. The minority of ER/physician visits and hospitalizations were discussed at our morbidity and mortality conferences . (Am J Gastroenterol 1999;94:1539-1545. (C) 1999 by Am. Coll. of Gastroent erology).