Lix LM, Singh H, Derksen S, Sirski M, McCulloch S. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2021.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) procedures are used to examine a person’s digestive tract. They are common procedures; more than 1 in 4 Manitobans will have a GIE procedure in a 10-year period. They are used to learn about the causes of symptoms, such as stomach pain or diarrhea, to diagnosis conditions of the digestive tract such as inflammatory bowel disease, and to screen people who are at risk for some cancers such as colorectal cancer. In this study, we looked at changes in procedure rates across health regions and population groups, described wait times in the Winnipeg and Southern Health-Santé Sud regions, and described outcomes after a GIE procedure, such as emergency department use and complications. We found an increase in procedure rates over time that was greatest in those 50 years and older. Wait times for GIE procedures were similar for urgent procedures in both health regions, but less similar for non-urgent procedures. Adverse outcomes are rare, but because many GIE procedures are performed each year, a large number of people can still be affected. Standardized tools and methods to collect and report on wait times and reasons for having a GIE procedure can help to reduce variations in rates and outcomes for Manitobans.

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