Evaluation of Children Undergoing Endoscopic Procedures During the Normalization of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Background: Given that procedures involving gastrointestinal tract lumens are high-risk and aerosol forming, the functioning of endoscopy units has been reorganized during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Guidelines recommend that all personnel should carry out procedures in a negative-pressure room with personal protective equipment; in the absence of a negative-pressure room, an adequately ventilated room should be used. During the normalization of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, this study aimed to evaluate children who were treated in our endoscopy unit without a negative-pressure chamber in terms of coronavirus disease 2019 after procedures. Methods: Patients were questioned and evaluated prospectively for symptoms and contact with coronavirus disease 2019 patients on before and 7th and 14th days after the procedure. Results: Seventy-eight procedures were performed on 69 patients over a 3-month period. The mean age of patients was 12.0 +/- 5.1 years. Among all the procedures performed, 54 (69.2%) involved upper gastrointestinal system (GIS) endoscopy and 24 (30.8%) involved colonoscopy. Furthermore, 72 (91.3%) of the procedures were performed in the pediatric endoscopy unit, and 6 (7.7%) were performed in the operating room. No coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms or presence was detected in the patients. Conclusion: The ideal setting for an endoscopic procedure is in a negative-pressure chamber. However, this study has shown that endoscopic procedures can be performed in units without negative-pressure rooms but with appropriate protective equipment and evaluation of patients for coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms.