OGC P30 Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on endoscopy services in oesophageal and gastric cancers


 
 
 Introduction: The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the health services across the world is well documented.
 
 
 
 We wished to determine the impact of the pandemic on the provision of endoscopy services and its effect on oesophageal and gastric cancers in our health board.
 
 
 
 A retrospective analysis of data collected from the major cancer network pathway (MCN) database for patients diagnosed with Oesophageal and Gastric cancers for the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health board in Scotland was performed. Data was collected for the year 2019 (pre-pandemic) and the year 2020 (pandemic) between 1st of January and 31st December for the respective years.
 Number of UGI endoscopy procedures performed, mode of presentation, stage at presentation and treatment intent were primary outcome measures. Data was analysed using stata17 software
 
 
 
 Data was recorded in 99 and 91 patients with OG cancers for the year 2019 and 2020 respectively. A total of 4176 and 1763 procedures were carried out during the 2 periods respectively. An increase in emergency presentations from 22 to 46% (p<0.05) was noted during this period. Dysphagia and haemetemesis were the most the common indications for the procedure. A decrease in number of routine/urgent and cancer suspect referrals from 78 to 45% was noted during the period. Only nine percent of the patients were offered radical treatment during the pandemic (from 23 percent). Palliative intent and best supportive care were recorded in 55 and 34% of the patients respectively.
 
 
 
 The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the endoscopy services and management of oesophageal and gastric cancers with an increase in non-Covid harm due to the pandemic.
