Classification of endoscopic procedures as urgent, semi-urgent and elective during COVID-19 outbreak
| Urgent endoscopy | Semi-urgent endoscopy (to be discussed on a case by case basis) | Elective endoscopy (deferred until further notice) |
| Acute gastrointestinal Bleeding Management of perforations and leakage Biliary sepsis Foreign body Gastrointestinal obstruction requiring stenting GI access for urgent feeding | Endoscopic treatment for gastrointestinal neoplasia (EMR/ESD) Endoscopy for highly suspicious case of cancer Small bowel enteroscopy for occult GI bleeding ERCP for hepatobiliary pancreatic cancers | All routine diagnostic endoscopy All surveillance and follow-up endoscopy (Barrett’s oesophagus/polyp/IBD/gastric intestinal metaplasia/history of GI cancer) Therapeutic endoscopy for non-cancer disease Other ERCP cases–asymptomatic stones; therapy for chronic pancreatitis; metal stent removal/change; ampullectomy follow-up EUS for diagnosis of benign condition ERCP for non-malignant conditions Endoscopic therapy for benign GI disorders (bariatric, GORD) |
EMR, endoscopic mucosal resection; ERCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; ESD, endoscopic submucosal dissection; EUS, endoscopic ultrasonography; GORD, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease.