title: Utility of single balloon enteroscopy (SBE) for difficult cases of total colonoscopy.
abstract: Balloon enteroscopy (BE) was originally developed for observation of the deep small intestine, and has recently been utilized for difficult cases of total colonoscopy due to reasons such as adhesions and elongation. In this report, we present our experience with single balloon enteroscopy (SBE) to facilitate successful colonoscopy when standard techniques failed. In two cases, early colon cancers were detected in the cecum by SBE and were removed endoscopically or surgically. A third case is discussed in which SBE was attempted but was ultimately not successful. In that case, total colonoscopy was not performed because of looping in the sigmoid and transverse colon. A fourth case in which SBE was performed in order to remove colonic gas in a patient with megacolon. In that case, total colonoscopy could not be completed because the SBE balloon could not "grab" the dilated colon and therefore could not advance. SBE is a useful adjunct to standard colonoscopy in challenging cases, but has limitations and does not always ensure success.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine; The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arihiro
authors.forename: Munenori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itagaki
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komoike
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Odagi
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saruta
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tajiri