Enteroscopy in the diagnosis and management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.
Capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy, have revolutionized our approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, largely replacing intraoperative enteroscopy and conventional barium studies. Despite its limitations, capsule endoscopy may well be the most reasonable initial diagnostic strategy to evaluate most patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, leaving balloon-assisted enteroscopy in reserve as a complementary tool. This article reviews the data on enteroscopy, with particular emphasis on the use of capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy for the diagnosis and management of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.
Pennazio
Marco
M
Small Bowel Disease Section, 2nd Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, San Giovanni Battista University Teaching Hospital, 10123 Turin, Italy. pennazio.marco@gmail.com
D053704:Capsule Endoscopy; D002404:Catheterization; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology*; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity