Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on endoscopy practice in the Czech Republic – survey research

Routine SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing before digestive endoscopy during the peak of the pandemic - a single tertiary center experience

“…In their multinational cross-sectional survey of 11 centers from four continents, Rodríguez-Carrasco et al showed a 55% reduction of endoscopic resections for neoplastic lesions during lockdown, which was as high as 76% in severally affected countries 8 . In the Czech Republic, Tacheci et al showed significant reduction of endoscopy procedures at 86% of units 9 .…”

“…We realize that routine RT-PCR testing may face organizational and economic challenges. In their Czech multicenter survey, Tacheci et al showed that RT-PCR testing could not be offered to all patients in 86% units and 44% had no access to RT-PCR testing at all 9 . As far as costs are concerned, Ebigbo et al calculated that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for prevalence rate ≥ 1% was the lowest for the strategy of routing testing coupled with use of high-risk protective equipment 24 .…”