Pediatric colonoscopy in South China: a 12-year experience in a tertiary center.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate: 1) the demographics and clinical characteristics, 2) the findings, and 3) the safety and effectiveness in a cohort of Chinese pediatric patients undergoing colonoscopy.


METHODS
The study participants were consecutive patients aged ≤14 years old that underwent their first colonoscopy in the endoscopy center at the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University between Jan. 1, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2012. Demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and pathological findings were collected.


RESULTS
The cohort consisted of 322 patients, including 218 boys (67.7%) and 104 girls (32.3%). The median age was 8.0 years old and ranged from 9 months to 14 years old. Hematochezia (48.8%) and abdominal pain/discomfort (41.3%) were the most common presentations preceding pediatric colonoscopy. The caecal intubation success rate was 96.3%. No serious complications occurred during the procedures. A total of 227 patients (70.5%) received a positive diagnosis under endoscopy, including 138 patients with polyps and 53 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Among the patients with polyps, 71.0% were juvenile polyps. Comparisons between years 2001-2006 and 2007-2012 showed that the IBD detection rate increased significantly (4.6% vs. 22.4%, P<0.001), while the opposite occurred for the polyp detection rate (73.1% vs. 27.6%, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Colonoscopy in pediatric patients is a safe and effective procedure. Polyps are the primary finding during colonoscopy. In South China there has been an increase in pediatric patients diagnosed with IBD over the past decade. However, a large epidemiological study is needed to confirm our findings.
Division of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Bao'an District Songgang People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China; Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Pingguang
P
Lei
Division of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Fang
F
Gu
Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Division of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou, China.
Liru
L
Hong
Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Yuli
Y
Sun
Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Minrui
M
Li
Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Huiling
H
Wang
Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Bihui
B
Zhong
Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Minhu
M
Chen
Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Yi
Y
Cui
Division of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Shenghong
S
Zhang
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies