Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy A Clinical Audit of Indications and Diagnosis. A 5-Year Data Analysis of Tertiary Care Centre

According to guidelines , patient age > 55 with dyspepsia/ epigastric pain and with alarming symptoms vomiting, dysphagia, weight loss, atypical chest pain, GI bleed, esophageal varices in CLD should be advised UGIE.Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is a pivotal diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the assessment and manage-3 ment of a wide spectrum of upper GI disorders .Ensuring the appropriateness of indications, evaluating diagnostic efficacy, and understanding the range of diseases diagnosed through this procedure are essential steps in enhancing the quality of patient care and optimizing healthcare resources.Therapeutically, it is used for band ligation, Sclerotherapy, Esophageal/Pyloric dilatation and PEG tube insertion.Biopsies can also be taken to diagnose suspicious lesions / H-Pylori infection.In addition, physicians can diagnose functional upper GI disorders by 4 excluding other pathologies.This clinical audit seeks to comprehensively examine the indications for upper GI endoscopy, assess the diagnostic efficacy, and analyze the diversity of diseases diagnosed within a cohort of patients visiting Endoscopy unit of a tertiary care center.By delving into the specifics of these upper GI procedures, we aim to provide insights AbstractObjective: The primary objective of this clinical audit is to evaluate the indications for upper GI endoscopy, assess the diagnostic yield, and identify the prevalence of diseases diagnosed during these procedures in a tertiary care centre.Methods: This study of 864 patients took place at Department of Medicine/Gastroenterology, Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital Lahore.A collaborative team, including experienced Gastroenterologist, Physicians, nurses, and data analysts, undertook a comprehensive review of upper GI endoscopy records.Detailed criteria for indications, diagnostic efficacy, and specific disease diagnoses were established, as per established clinical guidelines and prior research.Data was analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 24.Results: Out of 864 patients, 440 (50.9%) were females and 424 (49.0%) males making it approximately 1:1.Epigastric pain was the primary indication for UGIE (n=263) (30.4%) followed by Retrosternal burning (n=123) (14.2%).The commonest age group for endoscopy was 31-40years (n=197) (22.8%).GERD, Gastritis, Duodenitis were the commonest findings on UGIE.Only 34 (3.93%) patients had no positive finding.Corrosive intake history had the lowest indication rate (n=18) (2.08%) present only in females. Conclusion:This clinical audit contributes to a more informed and evidence-based approach to upper GI endoscopy.Epigastric pain was the most common indication and GERD was the predominant finding.By assessing indications, diagnostic efficacy, and diseases diagnosed, we aim to optimize the utilization of this procedure, enhance diagnostic precision, and improve patient outcomes for those with upper GI disorders.