An accurate assessment of the evolution of GI endoscopy volumes is warranted to identify long-term trends and to help anticipate training, infrastructure and human resource needs. The main objective of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the evolution of GI endoscopy in France.

This retrospective study consisted of a cross-sectional analysis repeated each year from 2008 to 2018 using data from a national health database related to hospital admissions. All day-case and hospital stays presenting at least one of the 119 GI endoscopy procedures were extracted.

This study showed an increase in day-case and hospital stays including a GI endoscopy procedure of 18.4%. In addition, day-case endoscopy increased from 67.8% to 76.9% of hospital admissions. There was a 19.6% increase in lower GI endoscopy, with in particular a 247% increase in endoscopic mucosal resection. EUS and pancreaticobiliary and duodenal endoscopy have seen the most significant increases, 63% and 70.2% respectively; notably, therapeutic EUS increased by 476%.

This study shows the good dynamics of GI endoscopy in a European country with a sustained increase over 11 years in day-case and hospital stays of patients undergoing a GI endoscopy while day-case endoscopy is taking on an increasingly important role.