title: Gastrointestinal interventions--emphasis on children.
abstract: Although the fundamental principles of interventional and minimally invasive image-guided techniques are the same in children as in adults, nonetheless the spectrum of diseases, the pediatric approach, and the devices used differ significantly from those in adults. The following is a general overview of image-guided gastrointestinal interventions in children and neonates, with emphasis on those aspects peculiar to children. Many of the facets and tips have been learned the hard way over the years, in a busy pediatric practice. Although there are several potential ways to do some of these procedures, the description below reflects our practice and experience. In general terms, minimizing radiation dose is a significant responsibility for the pediatric interventionalist. Reducing the number of exposures, reliance on last image hold, low-dose pulse fluoroscopy, and tight coning are all important. Protection for the radiologist is equally important, but sometimes difficult to achieve, given the small size of many of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Image Guided Therapy Centre, Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1X8, Canada.
authors.forename: Bairbre L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Connolly
mesh_terms: D002431:Cecostomy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004106:Dilatation / Q000379:methods; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*