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Background: The unprecedented situation caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly affected endoscopic practice in regard to access, volume, and workflow. We aimed to assess the potential changes in the technical outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures carried out in patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We conducted an international, multicenter, retrospective, matched case-control study of ERCP procedures carried out in patients with confirmed COVID-19. The main outcome was technical success of the procedure as assessed by the endoscopist, and the secondary outcome was the development of procedure-related adverse events. Each case was matched in a 1:4 ratio with controls extracted from each center’s database in order to identify relevant changes in outcome measures compared with the pre-pandemic era. Results: Eighteen procedures performed in 16 COVID-19 patients [14 men, 65 years (9–82)] and 67 controls were included in the final analysis. Technical success was achieved in 14/18 COVID-19 cases, which was significantly lower as compared with the control group (14/18 versus 64/67, p = 0.034), with an endoscopic reintervention required in 9/18 cases. However, the rate of procedure-related adverse events was low in both groups (1/18 versus 10/67, p = 0.44). On multivariable analysis, COVID-19 status remained the only risk factor for technical failure of the procedure [odds ratio of 19.9 (95% confidence interval 1.4–269.0)]. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the volume and practice of ERCP, resulting in lower technical success rates without significantly impacting patient safety. Prioritizing cases and following recommendations on safety measures can ensure good outcome with minimal risk in dedicated centers.

Endoscopy has a central role in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), providing crucial data for diagnostic and therapeutic decisions, treating disease-related complications, and assisting in the early detection of dysplasia and prevention of colorectal cancer in the setting of IBD. Treatment targets have significantly shifted in IBD, focusing on achieving mucosal healing, a more meaningful endpoint than clinical remission. With the emergence of novel therapies, we aim to alter the course of the disease and prevent irreversible damage to the bowel. To that end, obtaining reliable and reproducible assessments of endoscopic disease activity has become an issue of great importance. Although several guidelines include recommendations regarding endoscopic surveillance in patients with long-standing IBD, there is an open debate regarding the best examination method and the appropriate follow-up intervals. Another important issue is whether surveillance guidelines are actually implemented in real-life practice and what is the preferred surveillance method among endoscopists. Significant changes have occurred in the endoscopic world with the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and their incorporation in everyday practice. We aimed to assess the real-life application of guideline recommendations regarding endoscopy in IBD patients and to review newly emerged data which might impact these recommendations in the near future.