Ultrathin endoscopy in the assessment and treatment of upper and lower gastrointestinal tract strictures.
BACKGROUND
Ultrathin (</= 6 mm diameter) endoscopes have recently been introduced into clinical practice.


METHODS
We retrospectively assessed the role of a 6 mm diameter videoendoscope in 15 patients with tight gastrointestinal tract strictures.


RESULTS
The ultrathin endoscope was successfully passed through 9 of 12 esophageal strictures not amenable to endoscopy with a standard-diameter endoscope allowing stricture dilatation or nasogastric tube placement in 8 of these. Ultrathin endoscopy was also successful in passing 3 lower gastrointestinal tract strictures caused by Crohn's disease that were impassable using larger-diameter endoscopes.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrathin endoscopy is potentially useful in the assessment and treatment of some upper and lower gastrointestinal tract strictures.
Mulcahy
H E
HE
Digestive Diseases Research Centre, St. Bartholomew's and Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London E1 2AD, England, UK.
Fairclough
P D
PD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020685:Colonoscopes; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D004106:Dilatation; D019723:Endoscopes; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; D004867:Equipment Design; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies