A pilot study about tolerability to double balloon endoscopy: comparison to esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy.
BACKGROUND
Although the diagnostic and therapeutic values of double balloon endoscopy (DBE) have been investigated, the subjective tolerability to DBE has not been assessed. We aimed to evaluate patients' tolerability to DBE.


METHODS
We prospectively enrolled patients who underwent DBE. For the comparison of tolerability to DBE with that to esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy, those who had not undergone EGD nor colonoscopy were excluded. A total of 52 patients were included. All procedures were performed under conscious sedation with midazolam with or without pethidine. Patients' tolerability to DBE, EGD, and colonoscopy was assessed through an interview with a questionnaire using a 10-point Likert scale.


RESULTS
A total of 36 patients underwent both antegrade DBE and EGD under conscious sedation. The level of abdominal pain during procedures, the level of post-procedural abdominal discomfort, and the proportion of patients with persistent abdominal discomfort until the next morning were higher in antegrade DBE. However, when analyzed in 16 patients who had good quality of sedation, the differences in the level of abdominal pain during procedures and the persistent abdominal discomfort until the next morning disappeared. A total of 23 patients underwent both retrograde DBE and colonoscopy under conscious sedation. Tolerability parameters were not different between retrograde DBE and colonoscopy. Serious complications, including hemodynamic instability, did not occur during all procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients tolerated DBE well. DBE may be performed as comfortably as EGD and colonoscopy if the quality of sedation is good enough.
Byeon
Jeong-Sik
JS
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. jsbyeon@amc.seoul.kr
Jung
Kee Wook
KW
Song
Hyun-Suk
HS
Choi
Kee Don
KD
Ye
Byong Duk
BD
Do
Mi Young
MY
Yoon
Soon Man
SM
Myung
Seung-Jae
SJ
Yang
Suk-Kyun
SK
Kim
Jin-Ho
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult