Background
Endoscopic screening for esophageal neoplasia can identify patients eligible for early intervention for pre-cancerous lesions. Unsedated transnasal esophagoscopy may provide an efficient and accurate endoscopic assessment with fewer risks and less cost compared to conventional upper endoscopy.
Objective
To assess the feasibility, safety, acceptability and yield of unsedated transnasal esophagoscopy in a primary care population.
Design
Multi-center, prospective, cross-sectional study.
Setting
Two outpatient tertiary centers.
Patients
General medical clinic population between the ages of 40 and 85.
Interventions
Unsedated, office-based transnasal esophagoscopy.
Main outcomes measurements
1) Procedure yield, 2) Completeness of examination, 3) Procedure length, 4) Adverse events and complications, 5) Choking, gagging, pain or anxiety during the examination, and 6) Overall tolerability
Results
Four hundred and twenty-six participants (mean age 55.8 ± 9.5, 43% male) enrolled in the study, and 422 (99%) completed the examination. Mean examination time was 3.7 ± 1.8 minutes. There were no serious adverse events and 12 participants (2.8%) reported minor complications. Participants reported minimal choking, gagging, pain or anxiety. The examination was well tolerated by most participants. Overall, 38% of subjects had an esophageal finding that changed management (34% erosive esophagitis, 4% Barrett’s esophagus).
Limitations
Nonrandomized study; tertiary centers only; self-selected population with a large proportion reporting esophageal symptoms.
Conclusions
Unsedated transnasal esophagoscopy is a feasible, safe, and well-tolerated method to screen for esophageal disease in a primary care population. Endoscopic findings are common in this patient population.