A study, published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, analyzed outpatient pediatric endoscopic procedures, finding them safe and with few adverse events.
Researchers examined outcomes from 217,817 pediatric patients who underwent diagnostic endoscopy in the ambulatory setting.
Here's what they found:
1. None of the procedures ended in death.
2. Female patients experienced adverse events at a greater rate than male patients. Patients from urban settings also experienced a higher rate of adverse events.
3. Patients with chronic comorbidities were more likely to experience complications during their procedures than those without comorbidities.
4. Approximately 30.5 percent of patients suffered from abdominal pains, 26.8 percent had other gastroenterologic processes, 17.1 percent had a respiratory disorders, 8.3 percent had GI hemorrhaging and 4.5 percent had fevers.
Researchers concluded, "Ambulatory pediatric endoscopy is safe; significant adverse outcomes are rare but more likely in female, non-white or Hispanic patients and in patients with significant chronic comorbidities."