Patient Develops Life-Threatening Pneumonia After Endoscopy

Typically the supervision of CRNA’s in the inpatient setting will be done by anesthesia, not GI, but every institution is different. Barium is not typically given when there is a possible impaction/obstruction, as it does lead to an increased risk of aspiration. Typically on cases where there is obstruction, protecting the airway by intubating the patient is standard of care, an this is also typically done by the anaesthesia provider. I am a board certified GI affiliated with an academic health center. I typically treat similar patients, and I do endoscopies on patients with suspected food impaction on a weekly basis. I have not had a patient aspirate during endoscopy. I have regularly performed endoscopy in a hospital endoscopy suite. I will be alone in the room with CRNA’s and AA’s and will give them orders and instructions, however their supervision is the responsibility of an anesthesiologist.

Expert Bio

This double board certified expert has been practicing for nearly 25 years. Fellowship trained in Gastroenterology, he is a member of multiple prestigious gastrointestinal societies and has been running his own gastroenterological practice for the past 19 years. He is also currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at a prominent medical school, as well as the Medical Director of the Department of Endoscopy at an academic hospital.