Adverse Event Rate of Unsedated Esophagogastroduodenoscopy: a Comparison Between Healthy Adults and Cirrhotic Patients

Cirrhosis is a common cause of mortality worldwide. The role of endoscopy in liver cirrhosis is of increasing value in the diagnosis and management [1]. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedure is commonly utilized for the patients with liver cirrhosis. Generally, unsedated EGD procedures are used even in these cirrhotic patients. Several previous studies suggested that many patients who received adequate information about the procedure select not to have sedation [2,3]. In Thailand, most of diagnostic EGD procedures are accomplished with topical pharyngeal anesthesia. Topical pharyngeal anesthesia before these procedures is demonstrated to increase patient tolerance and completion of procedure [4-6]. There have not been any studies directly comparing the adverse events of UEGD procedure between healthy adults and cirrhotic patients.