PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Conlon, Caroline
AU  - Campion, John
AU  - Mehigan Farrelly, Niamh
AU  - Ring, Eabha
AU  - Dunne, Talulla
AU  - Gorman, Dora
AU  - Murphy, Suzanne
AU  - Kelleher, Barry
AU  - Stewart, Stephen
AU  - Leyden, Jan
AU  - Lahiff, Conor
TI  - Endoscopy training through the COVID-19 pandemic: maintaining procedural volumes and key performance standards
AID  - 10.1136/flgastro-2021-102069
DP  - 2023 Jan 01
TA  - Frontline Gastroenterology
PG  - 38--44
VI  - 14
IP  - 1
4099  - http://fg.bmj.com/content/14/1/38.short
4100  - http://fg.bmj.com/content/14/1/38.full
SO  - Frontline Gastroenterol2023 Jan 01; 14
AB  - Objective Endoscopy departments have experienced considerable challenges in the provision of endoscopy services since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several studies have reported a reduction of procedures performed by trainee endoscopists during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the impact on colonoscopy training and quality in an academic centre throughout successive waves of the pandemic.Methods This was a single-centre, retrospective, observational study comparing colonoscopies performed at a tertiary endoscopy centre in Ireland at different stages of the pandemic with those performed during a similar time frame prepandemic. Data were collected using electronic patient records. Primary outcomes were procedure volumes, adenoma detection rate and mean adenoma per procedure.Results In the prepandemic period, 798 colonoscopies were performed. During the same period in 2020, 172 colonoscopies were performed. In 2021, during the third wave of the pandemic, 538 colonoscopies were performed. Percentages of colonoscopies performed by trainees were 46.0% (n=367) in 2019, 25.6% (n=44) in 2020 and 45.2% (n=243) in 2021. Adenoma detection rate was 21.3% in 2019, 38.6% in 2020 and 23.9% in 2021. Mean adenoma per procedure was 0.45 in 2019, 0.86 in 2020 and 0.49 in 2021. Caecal intubation rate was 90.74% in 2019, 90.9% in 2020 and 95.88% in 2021.Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic initially had a negative impact on overall colonoscopy volumes and training. Despite a reduction in procedural volume, key performance standards were maintained by trainees. Maintenance of hands-on training is essential to allow trainees achieve and retain competency in endoscopy.Data are available on reasonable request.