BACKGROUND - Single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) is a novel, deep-enteroscopy modality for diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the small bowel.
OBJECTIVE - The aim of the study was to examine the performance, yield, and safety of SBE in the initial experience at a tertiary-care center.
DESIGN - Retrospective analysis of all SBEs during a 10-month period in 2008. Data were extracted from electronic clinical and endoscopy records.
SETTING - U.S. tertiary-care center.
PATIENTS - All patients referred to our center for SBE during the study period were included in the current analysis.
INTERVENTION - SBE.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS - Anterograde SBE procedure time, diagnostic yield, and complications.
RESULTS - Thirty-eight anterograde SBEs were performed. The mean patient age was 62 years (42% female). Patients were referred for GI bleeding (97%), Crohn's disease, suspected polyps or neoplasia, and abnormal capsule endoscopy results. The mean (+/- SD) procedure time was 49 +/- 19 minutes. The estimated depth of insertion was proximal jejunum (34%), mid-jejunum (45%), and distal jejunum (21%). The SBE diagnostic yield was 47%, with significant findings in 18 patients. Findings included angiectasias, bleeding, abnormal mucosa, ulceration, polyps, and a foreign body. The therapeutic yield was 42%, with lesion ablation performed in 24% of cases. Diagnostic biopsies were performed in 24% of cases and tattooing in 52%. There were no significant complications.
LIMITATIONS - Single-center, retrospective study.
CONCLUSION - Single-balloon enteroscopy appears to be a safe and efficient method for examination of the mid-small bowel. The significant therapeutic yield (42%) suggests that comparative studies with double-balloon and spiral enteroscopy are warranted.
Copyright 2010 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.
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