European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility Recommendations for Conducting Gastrointestinal Motility and Function Testing in the Recovery Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overview

Journal Neurogastroenterol Motil

Specialties Gastroenterology
Neurology

Date 2020 Jun 12

PMID 32525249

Citations 10

Authors

Jan Tack

Tim Vanuytsel

Jordi Serra

Anna Accarino

Vincenzo Stanghellini

Giovanni Barbara

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: During the peak of the COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, care for patients with gastrointestinal motility and functional disorders was largely suspended. In the recovery phases of the pandemic, non-urgent medical care is resumed, but there is a lack of guidance for restarting and safely conducting motility and function testing. Breath tests and insertion of manometry and pH-monitoring probes carry a risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread through droplet formation.

Methods: A panel of experts from the European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM) evaluated emerging national and single-center recommendations to provide the best current evidence and a pragmatic approach to ensure the safe conduct of motility and function testing for both healthcare professionals and patients.

Results: At a general level, this involves evaluation of the urgency of the procedure, evaluation of the infectious risk associated with the patient, the investigation and the healthcare professional(s) involved, provision of the test planning and test units, education and training of staff, and use of personnel protection equipment. Additional guidance is provided for specific procedures such as esophageal manometry, pH monitoring, and breath tests.

Conclusions And Inferences: The ESNM guidelines provide pragmatic and appropriate guidance for the safe conduct of motility and function testing in the COVID-19 pandemic and early recovery phase.

Citing Articles

Efficacy of pre-test questionnaires and PCR on COVID-19 detection prior to motility examinations.

Aguilar A, Serra J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2022; 34(10):e14413.

PMID: 35641109 PMC: 9348313. DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14413.

Evaluating the impact of an enhanced triage process on the performance and diagnostic yield of oesophageal physiology studies post COVID-19.

Doyle R, Bate S, Devenney J, Agwaonye S, Hastings M, Wych J BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2021; 8(1).

PMID: 34933867 PMC: 8692781. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgast-2021-000810.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on high-resolution manometry and peroral endoscopic myotomy for esophageal motility disorder in Japan.

Ominami M, Sato H, Fujiyoshi Y, Abe H, Shiwaku H, Shiota J Dig Endosc. 2021; 34(4):769-777.

PMID: 34510551 PMC: 8653167. DOI: 10.1111/den.14133.

The effect of an air purifier on aerosol generation measurements during clinical motility testing.

Verbeure W, Geeraerts A, Huang I, Timmermans L, Toth J, Geysen H Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2021; 34(4):e14227.

PMID: 34342092 PMC: 8420584. DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14227.

Triage guidance for upper gastrointestinal physiology investigations during restoration of services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sykes C, Parker H, Jackson W, Sweis R Frontline Gastroenterol. 2021; 12(3):246-248.

PMID: 33907618 PMC: 8040509. DOI: 10.1136/flgastro-2020-101632.

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