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Contains fulltext : 252148.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)

Contains fulltext : 220063.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) We are currently living in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic that imposes a significant stress on health care providers and facilities. Europe is severely affected with an exponential increase in incident infections and deaths. The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 can be subtle, encompassing a broad spectrum from asymptomatic mild disease to severe respiratory illness. Health care professionals in endoscopy units are at increased risk of infection from COVID-19. Infection prevention and control has been shown to be dramatically effective in assuring the safety of both health care professionals and patients. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (www.esge.com) and the European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates (www.esgena.org) are joining forces to provide guidance during this pandemic to help assure the highest level of endoscopy care and protection against COVID-19 for both patients and endoscopy unit personnel. This guidance is based upon the best available evidence regarding assessment of risk during the current status of the pandemic and a consensus on which procedures to perform and the priorities on resumption. We appreciate the gaps in knowledge and evidence, especially on the proper strategy(ies) for the resumption of normal endoscopy practice during the upcoming phases and end of the pandemic and therefore a list of potential research questions is presented. New evidence may result in an updated statement.

Contains fulltext : 225257.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)

Propofol and the combination of a benzodiazepine and an opiate have been established for sedation in flexible bronchoscopy. It is as yet unknown whether propofol in combination with an opiate is superior to propofol alone to suppress cough during the procedure. 300 consecutive patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy at a tertiary care university hospital were randomly allocated to receive either the combination propofol and hydrocodone or propofol alone in a double-blind fashion. The primary end-point was the cough score during the procedure as estimated by the physician using a visual analogue scale. Demographics were similar in both groups. Compared with propofol alone, median (interquartile range) cough scores assessed by physicians, nurses and patients were significantly lower in the group randomised to the combination propofol and hydrocodone (2.5 (1.5-4.0) versus 2.0 (1.0-3.0), respectively, p=0.011). Additionally, patients receiving the combination required significantly lower doses of propofol than those receiving propofol alone (200 mg (140-280) versus 260 mg (180-350), p