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Adverse events in digestive endoscopy are hopefully rare, but they can have a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of each patient. They are responsible for sometimes lengthy management that can alter the patient’s quality of life, or for emergency surgical management that comes with its own morbidity. In addition, the ease of access to diagnostic endoscopy and the increase in techniques and indications for therapeutic endoscopy mean that, despite technical progress, the number of complications following endoscopic management remains high. Moreover, the population affected by these procedures comprises older patients with comorbidities that expose them to more severe complications. Gastroenterologists must therefore be aware of these clinical situations in order to clearly inform their patients, know how to identify those who are at higher risk, and adopt the most appropriate preventive attitude. A good knowledge of these risks also enables each gastroenterologist to ascertain the best therapeutic approach for each of their patients.