Small bowel endoscopy in inflammatory bowel disease.
The last decade has witnessed a revolution in small bowel (SB) endoscopy technologies. Endoscopists are no longer confined to the use of push enteroscopy or the significantly more invasive intra-operative enteroscopy: SB capsule endoscopy (SBCE) and device assisted enteroscopy (DAE) have rapidly enabled endoscopic visualisation of the entire SB without the need for surgery. DAE goes a step further by allowing tissue sampling and the application of endotherapy. These developments have also been parallelled by rapid advances in dedicated radiological SB imaging technologies. Although it is clear that SBCE and DAE may have a significant role in the diagnosis and management of IBD patients, their respective place in relation to other technologies within the clinical paradigm of IBD is as yet unclear. This review outlines the current evidence base relating to these endoscopic technologies and their impact in the diagnosis and management of IBD and highlights current international recommendations.
Wolfson Unit for Endoscopy, St Mark's Hospital and Academic Institute, Imperial College London (Northwick Park Campus), Watford Road, Harrow, London HA1 3UJ, UK. edespott@doctors.org.uk
Edward J
EJ
Despott
Chris
C
Fraser
D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D007421:Intestine, Small