Positivity Rate of Universal PCR Screening for COVID-19 Pre-Endoscopy and its Impact on Diagnosis and Management of New Cancer Patients at a Cancer Centre in Pakistan

Authors

  • Muhammad Kashif Department of Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore Pakistan
  • Shahana Shahid Department of Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore Pakistan
  • Wahaj Ul Hassan Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Malir/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • M. Zeeshan Siddiqui Department of Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore Pakistan
  • Muhammad Saqib Department of Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore Pakistan
  • M. Aasim Yusuf Department of Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v73i5.8050

Keywords:

COVID-19, Endoscopy, Gastroenterology, PCR

Abstract

Objective: To determine the positivity rate of COVID-19 on pre-procedure screening and its impact on diagnosis and
management of new cancer patients.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from Sep 2020 to Aug 2021.

Methodology: Data was retrospectively collected from electronic medical records of the patients, including their age, gender, PCR test result, date of first visit to the gastroenterology clinic, date of multidisciplinary team meeting and any adverse event reported due to delay in endoscopy procedure.

Results: A total of 1273 patients underwent endoscopy procedures in the study period. Fifty-two patients were found to be
COVID-positive (4.1%), and only one was symptomatic. The percentage of positivity in newly diagnosed 22 cancer patients
was 1.72%. Of 52 patients, 31 were male (59.61%), and 21 were female (40.39%). Only 1 patient was presented with abdominal pain and revealed concealed perforation. No other adverse event was reported in any patient, and no new imaging was required before discussion in a multidisciplinary team meeting.

Conclusion: The hospital policy of COVID PCR test 48 hours before the endoscopy procedure effectively isolates the
asymptomatic positive COVID-19 patients. The two-week delay due to COVID-PCR positivity in newly diagnosed cancer
patients was not associated with any adverse event, and no new imaging was required.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

30-10-2023

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

1.
Kashif M, Shahana Shahid, Hassan WU, M. Zeeshan Siddiqui, Muhammad Saqib, M. Aasim Yusuf. Positivity Rate of Universal PCR Screening for COVID-19 Pre-Endoscopy and its Impact on Diagnosis and Management of New Cancer Patients at a Cancer Centre in Pakistan. Pak Armed Forces Med J [Internet]. 2023 Oct. 30 [cited 2024 Oct. 13];73(5):1293-6. Available from: https://pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/8050