title: Double balloon enteroscopy: a 3-year experience at a tertiary care center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the indications, diagnostic yield, therapeutic interventions, complications and safety of double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of the patients who underwent DBE at the Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Hospital between October 2007 and January 2010 were examined to note the demographic data, indications for the examination, results of previous non-invasive small bowel imaging and endoscopic procedures and the results of DBE including findings, endoscopic interventions, complications and pathological reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 139 procedures were performed in 118 patients. DBE was performed 81 times through mouth and 26 times through anus and additionally both approaches were used 16 times in the same patients. Panenteroscopy was successfully performed in 13 of 16 patients (87.5%) in whom it was attempted. The most common indication was obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (28.8%). DBE had an overall diagnostic and/or therapeutic contribution in 63 (53.4%) patients. The main pathologies detected on DBE were polyps (12.7%), infammation (10.7%) and vascular lesions (3.4%). Complications were recognized in four cases (3.4%) but no major complication occured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our retrospective analysis showed that DBE is a useful, safe and well-tolerated method with a diagnostic and therapeutic impact for the management of small bowel diseases.
authors: Division of Gastroenterology, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ibrahim Koral
authors: IK
authors: Onal
authors: Meral
authors: M
authors: Akdogan
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Arhan
authors: Zeki Mesut
authors: ZM
authors: Yalinkilic
authors: Bahattin
authors: B
authors: Cicek
authors: Sabite
authors: S
authors: Kacar
authors: Mevlut
authors: M
authors: Kurt
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Ibis
authors: Yasemin Ozderin
authors: YO
authors: Ozin
authors: Abdurrahim
authors: A
authors: Sayilir
authors: Abdurrahim
authors: A
authors: Sayilir
authors: Nurgul
authors: N
authors: Sasmaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058582:Double-Balloon Enteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult