title: Double-balloon enteroscopy in the evaluation of small bowel disorders in pediatric patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the indications, clinical utility, feasibility and safety of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in the diagnosis and management of small intestinal diseases in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective analysis of pediatric patients younger than 18 years referred to Shanghai Rui Jin Hospital from May 2003 to June 2008 for investigation of suspected small bowel disorders. Demographic, clinical, procedural and outcome data were collected for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 35 DBE were carried out in 30 children with a mean age of 13 years. Indications for DBE were obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (n = 22), chronic abdominal pain (n = 4), chronic diarrhea (n = 3), and incomplete small bowel obstruction (n = 1). DBE evidenced pathological findings in 29 patients (96.7%). DBE altered management in 90% of patients with positive findings. Follow up was obtained on all patients with a mean (range) of 40 months (14-75 months). The procedure was successful in all patients and there were no serious complications related to sedation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DBE is feasible and safe and has a high diagnostic yield and therapeutic impact on the diagnosis and management of small bowel disorders in selected pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Rui Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ruizhe
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shidan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy; D002648:Child; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D058582:Double-Balloon Enteroscopy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies