A Computerised System for Recording and Reporting on Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Data

Abstract

The numerous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in gastrointestinal endoscopy services are often inadequately recorded and not easily available for retrieval and analysis. Therefore, during the last few years interest in integrating computer technology into gastrointestinal practice for collecting, storing and processing endoscopic data has increased rapidly (Rozen and DeDombal 1984). There are two major reasons for eventually computerising the results of an endoscopy: (a) to produce automatically reports written in an understandable language and acceptable for transmission outside the department; and secondly (b) to make statistical analysis of the information possible. The perfectly programmed report should give a description of every endoscopic situation encountered and be faster, more complete and cheaper than a traditionally written or dictated report.