[Diagnostic benefit of gastrointestinal endoscopy in infants under one year of age--a two-year survey].
BACKGROUND
Gastrointestinal endoscopy in children is a well-established procedure. We reviewed our experience of endoscopy in infants below one year of age to evaluate indications, endoscopic findings, histology, and complications.


METHODS
Twenty-eight infants were studied over a two-year period. Of these, 18 underwent upper endoscopy, six recto/sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, and four both procedures.


RESULTS
The most common indication (10/22) for upper endoscopy was vomiting and suspicion of gastrooesophageal reflux disease. In these infants, 24-hour continuous monitoring of the oesophageal pH followed the procedure. Indications for lower endoscopy were rectal bleeding (n = 6) and intractable diarrhoea (n = 4). There were no complications to anaesthesia, endoscopy, or biopsy. Overall, there were endoscopic abnormalities in 82% and histological abnormalities in 75% of the infants. The diagnostic findings included rare disorders, such as eosinophilic gastroenteritis, microvillous inclusion disease, and chylomicron retention disease. Diagnosis of these diseases requires gastrointestinal biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe procedure, which is a valuable part of the diagnostic work-up in a selected group of infants with long-lasting or severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
Odense Universitetshospital, børneafdeling H, Patologisk Institut, kirurgisk afdeling og anaestesiologisk-intensiv afdeling V.
R G
RG
Nielsen
C
C
Fenger
S A
SA
Pedersen
N
N
Qvist
J
J
Sørensen
S
S
Husby
D003113:Colonoscopy; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy