# CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS Over the last 30 years endoscopy has become an integral part of the diagnostic work-up of patients with gastrointestinal disease. Whereas advances in radiology and capsule studies may obviate the need for some diagnostic procedures, the ability to take mucosal biopsies will ensure that it retains a vital role. Ongoing developments in technology such as magnifying endoscopy and chromoendoscopy give near-histological qual ity definition and there is considerable interest in the role of artificial intelligence to augment near-patient diagnosis. There have also been major advances in the range of conditions that are amenable to endoscopic therapy; such therapy may have substantially lo wer associated morbidity rates than traditional surgical approaches. However, as the scope of procedures widens and the age range/comorbidities of the patients increases, it is beholden on the endoscopist to ensure that he or she adheres to appropriate governance/consent and sedation practice to minimise complications. Allison MC, Sandoe JAT , Tighe R et al . Antibiotic prophylaxis in gastrointestinal endoscopy . Gut 2009; 58 : 869–80. Everett SM, Gri ffi ths H, Nandasoma U et al , Guideline for obtaining valid consent for gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures Gut 2016; 65 (10): 1585–601. Ferlitsch M, Moss A, Hassan C et al . Colorectal polypectomy and en - doscopic mucosal resection (EMR): European Society of Gastroin - testinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Clinical Guideline. Endoscopy 2017; 49 : 270–97. Hawes RH, Fockens P , Varadarajulu S. Endosonography , 3rd edn. Phila - delphia: Saunders, 2014. Haycock A, Cohen J, Saunders BP et al. Cotton and Williams’ practical gastrointestinal endoscopy, 7th edn. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2014. Members of the British Society of Gastroenterology Endoscopy Sec - tion Committee Working Party on Decontamination of Equipment for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy . BSG guidance for decontamination of equipment for gastrointestinal endoscopy , 2020. Available from https:// www .bsg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BSG-Decontami - nation-guidance-2020-update.pdf Rees CJ, Thomas Gibson S, Rutter MD et al . UK key performance in - dicators and quality assurance standards for colonoscopy . Gut 2016; 65 : 1923–29. Rutter MD, East J, Rees CJ, et al . British Society of Gastroenterology/ Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland/Public Health England post-polypectomy and post-colorectal cancer re - section surveillance guidelines. Gut 2020; 69 : 201–23. - V eitch AM, Radaelli F , Alikhan R et al . Endoscopy in patients on an - tiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy: British Society of Gastroenter - ology (BSG) and European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guideline update. Gut 2021; 70 : 1611–1628. CONCLUSIONS Over the last 30 years endoscopy has become an integral part of the diagnostic work-up of patients with gastrointestinal disease. Whereas advances in radiology and capsule studies may obviate the need for some diagnostic procedures, the ability to take mucosal biopsies will ensure that it retains a vital role. Ongoing developments in technology such as magnifying endoscopy and chromoendoscopy give near-histological qual ity definition and there is considerable interest in the role of artificial intelligence to augment near-patient diagnosis. There have also been major advances in the range of conditions that are amenable to endoscopic therapy; such therapy may have substantially lo wer associated morbidity rates than traditional surgical approaches. However, as the scope of procedures widens and the age range/comorbidities of the patients increases, it is beholden on the endoscopist to ensure that he or she adheres to appropriate governance/consent and sedation practice to minimise complications. Allison MC, Sandoe JAT , Tighe R et al . Antibiotic prophylaxis in gastrointestinal endoscopy . Gut 2009; 58 : 869–80. Everett SM, Gri ffi ths H, Nandasoma U et al , Guideline for obtaining valid consent for gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures Gut 2016; 65 (10): 1585–601. Ferlitsch M, Moss A, Hassan C et al . Colorectal polypectomy and en - doscopic mucosal resection (EMR): European Society of Gastroin - testinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Clinical Guideline. Endoscopy 2017; 49 : 270–97. Hawes RH, Fockens P , Varadarajulu S. Endosonography , 3rd edn. Phila - delphia: Saunders, 2014. Haycock A, Cohen J, Saunders BP et al. Cotton and Williams’ practical gastrointestinal endoscopy, 7th edn. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2014. Members of the British Society of Gastroenterology Endoscopy Sec - tion Committee Working Party on Decontamination of Equipment for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy . BSG guidance for decontamination of equipment for gastrointestinal endoscopy , 2020. Available from https:// www .bsg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BSG-Decontami - nation-guidance-2020-update.pdf Rees CJ, Thomas Gibson S, Rutter MD et al . UK key performance in - dicators and quality assurance standards for colonoscopy . Gut 2016; 65 : 1923–29. Rutter MD, East J, Rees CJ, et al . British Society of Gastroenterology/ Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland/Public Health England post-polypectomy and post-colorectal cancer re - section surveillance guidelines. Gut 2020; 69 : 201–23. - V eitch AM, Radaelli F , Alikhan R et al . Endoscopy in patients on an - tiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy: British Society of Gastroenter - ology (BSG) and European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guideline update. Gut 2021; 70 : 1611–1628. CONCLUSIONS Over the last 30 years endoscopy has become an integral part of the diagnostic work-up of patients with gastrointestinal disease. Whereas advances in radiology and capsule studies may obviate the need for some diagnostic procedures, the ability to take mucosal biopsies will ensure that it retains a vital role. Ongoing developments in technology such as magnifying endoscopy and chromoendoscopy give near-histological qual ity definition and there is considerable interest in the role of artificial intelligence to augment near-patient diagnosis. There have also been major advances in the range of conditions that are amenable to endoscopic therapy; such therapy may have substantially lo wer associated morbidity rates than traditional surgical approaches. However, as the scope of procedures widens and the age range/comorbidities of the patients increases, it is beholden on the endoscopist to ensure that he or she adheres to appropriate governance/consent and sedation practice to minimise complications. Allison MC, Sandoe JAT , Tighe R et al . Antibiotic prophylaxis in gastrointestinal endoscopy . Gut 2009; 58 : 869–80. Everett SM, Gri ffi ths H, Nandasoma U et al , Guideline for obtaining valid consent for gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures Gut 2016; 65 (10): 1585–601. Ferlitsch M, Moss A, Hassan C et al . Colorectal polypectomy and en - doscopic mucosal resection (EMR): European Society of Gastroin - testinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Clinical Guideline. Endoscopy 2017; 49 : 270–97. Hawes RH, Fockens P , Varadarajulu S. Endosonography , 3rd edn. Phila - delphia: Saunders, 2014. Haycock A, Cohen J, Saunders BP et al. Cotton and Williams’ practical gastrointestinal endoscopy, 7th edn. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2014. Members of the British Society of Gastroenterology Endoscopy Sec - tion Committee Working Party on Decontamination of Equipment for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy . BSG guidance for decontamination of equipment for gastrointestinal endoscopy , 2020. Available from https:// www .bsg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BSG-Decontami - nation-guidance-2020-update.pdf Rees CJ, Thomas Gibson S, Rutter MD et al . UK key performance in - dicators and quality assurance standards for colonoscopy . Gut 2016; 65 : 1923–29. Rutter MD, East J, Rees CJ, et al . British Society of Gastroenterology/ Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland/Public Health England post-polypectomy and post-colorectal cancer re - section surveillance guidelines. Gut 2020; 69 : 201–23. - V eitch AM, Radaelli F , Alikhan R et al . Endoscopy in patients on an - tiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy: British Society of Gastroenter - ology (BSG) and European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) guideline update. Gut 2021; 70 : 1611–1628.