Patients’ Lived Experience and Injuries Observed during Upper Digestive Endoscopy at KARA Teaching Hospital (Togo)

Background: Endoscopy remains the most performant medical exam exploring the upper digestive tract;but depending on patients, its tolerance is variable. Objective: This study aimed at describing the experience and evaluating the tolerance, acceptability and injuries observed during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Methods: This is a prospective and descriptive study carried out from April to July 2017 in the digestive endoscopy unit of the Kara teaching hospital (Togo). The gastroscopy was performed by the same operator (Hepatogastroenteroloogist). The premedication was done with direct intravenous injection of 10 mg of Metoclopramide hydrochloride and viscous Lidocaine oral gel. Previously, essential information about the examination course was given to patients after obtaining their verbal consent. Patients’ impressions of the experience, tolerance and acceptability were collected on a survey sheet, before and after the examination. Results: One hundred and eleven patients were included, 62 women and 49 men. The average age was 45.9 years (15 - 88 years), and the sex ratio (F/M) was 1.2. Most of the patients (89.2%) were experiencing the gastroscopy for the first time, and the main reason was epigastralgia in 55%. The examination duration was good at 88.3% and tolerance was good at 72.1%. Tingling, irritation, pain or sore throat feelings were noted in 13.5%. Patients agreeing to make an ulterior UDE if necessary were up to 92.8%. Observed injuries were dominated by antral erythematous gastropathy (28.8%). Conclusion: UDE is well tolerated among our patients and its acceptability is high. Injuries are dominated by inflammatory pathologies of the stomach in our population.

Epidemiological investigation of Barrett's esophagus in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease in Northwest China

Objective： To investigate the prevalence and possible risk factors of Barrett＇s esophagus （BE） in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） in Northwest China. Methods： Patients older than 18 years who underwent regular health check-up or had upper gastrointestinal symptoms in the endoscopy centers of four major teaching hospitals located in four different provinces of Northwest China from September 2008 to February 2009 were included in the study. A face-to-face reflux diagnostic questionnaire including risk factors were taken and scale scores （So） were accumulated. Diagnostic criterion of GERD was Sc≥12 points. None of these subjects received anti-acid medication prior to their endoscopy done. Barrett＇s esophagus was diagnosed when specialized intestinal metaplasia was detected histologically. Results： A total of 528 patients met the criteria of GERD, among which 32 patients （20 male and 12 female） were diagnosed with BE. BE was present in 6.06% with a mean age of 51.2±11.6 years, which was significantly older than patients with GERD without BE （46.6±13.3 years） （P〈0.05）. There weresignificant differences between BE and GERD patients regarding gender, age, hiatus hernia, smoking and alcohol consumption （P〈0.05）, while no significant difference regarding symptoms of GERD. There was significant difference between short segment Barrett＇s esophagus and long segment （65.6% vs 34.4%, P〈0.05）. Conclusion： The prevalence of BE was 6.06% in patients with GERD in northwest China and was dominated by SSBE. The potential risk factors of Barrett＇s esophagus were older age, male, esophageal hiatal hernia, smoking and alcohol consumption.