title: Capsule endoscopy followed by single balloon enteroscopy in children with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: a combined approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective single-centre study aims to evaluate a new diagnostic algorithm using capsule endoscopy, colon capsule endoscopy and single-balloon enteroscopy in the work-up of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The usefulness of a new diagnostic algorithm was assessed comparing the clinically relevant findings revealed by each technique, and evaluating the clinical outcomes during the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 22 paediatric patients were evaluated (14 male; mean age 12.5 years ± 3.9). Capsule endoscopies were positive in 14 (63.6%), suspicious in 5 (22.7%) and negative in 3 (13.6%). A second look with colon capsule identified new lesions in 2/3 (67%) of previous negative cases. Enteroscopies were able to reach the positive and suspicious findings in all but 2, in which an intraoperative enteroscopy was needed. This combined approach showed positive findings in 21/22 of cases with a diagnostic yield of 95%. Eighteen patients (82%) had a complete resolution after therapy. One patient resolved his symptoms spontaneously. Despite diagnosis, in three patients (13.6%) the gastrointestinal bleeding was not resolved after therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This algorithm achieves optimal levels of diagnostic yield (95%) and therapeutic outcome (82%). This approach deserves to be studied in a larger multicentre cohort of patients and for a longer follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Sapienza - University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology 2, Department of Medicine, S. Giovanni AS University Teaching Hospital, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pennazio
authors.affiliation: Children's Centre for Digestive Health Care, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: Stanley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Sapienza - University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aloi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology Unit, Institute G. Gaslini, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Arrigo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barabino
authors.affiliation: Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pession
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Sapienza - University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frediani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Sapienza - University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: giovanni.dinardo@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Nardo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007421:Intestine, Small; D008297:Male; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: Capsule endoscopy; Children; Enteroscopy; Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding