Endoscopy and General Surgery - Parts of the Same Activity.
OBJECTIVE
In general and digestive surgical departments, an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of our patients require a wide and continuous access to endoscopy. As many surgical clinics have already developed their own endoscopy units, we plead for the future presence of at least 1 or 2 surgeons, board certified in endoscopy, in every surgical department.


METHODS
We have retrospectively analyzed the activity of the endoscopic unit as a part of the Surgical Clinic of "Dr. I. Cantacuzino" Clinical Hospital since 2007, when it was settled, and its benefits, regarding a higher accessibility for our patients and a reliable support for all the doctors.


RESULTS
The number of procedures has increased constantly, from 137, performed by 2 surgeons in 2007 to 1546, in 2015, when 7 surgeons were able to get involved in endoscopic procedures, on a 24/7 schedule. The etiological diagnosis of gastrointestinal hemorrhages, the early detection of gastric, colonic and upper rectal tumors, the follow-up of oncologic patients are only a few of the fields in which endoscopy proved its benefits. Furthermore, surgeons have the practical training and the legal board certification for the approach and treatment of complications.


CONCLUSIONS
An increased number of surgeons who have also board certification in endoscopy cannot be but very useful. The best way to accomplish this goal would be the inclusion of a digestive endoscopy module during the training program of all future general surgeons.
Horia
H
Doran
Traian
T
Pătraşcu
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