Initial experience with double-balloon enteroscopy at a U.S. center

BACKGROUND: Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) allows direct visualization and intervention in the entire small intestine. Concerns include long procedure times and a long learning curve after training. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the initial experience of a single endoscopist when using DBE; assess resource utilization, safety, clinical utility, and the learning curve. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Tertiary-referral center. PATIENTS: A total of 137 consecutive patients with bleeding or other small-intestine disorders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical impact at the time of DBE and changes in the procedure time and extent with experience. RESULTS: Two hundred DBE procedures were performed without major complications. For 115 oral DBEs, the mean (SD) procedure duration was 101 +/- 35 minutes and length of examined small intestine was 220 +/- 80 cm, with no significant change with experience. For 85 anal DBEs, the mean (SD) procedure duration was 96 +/- 33 minutes, and the length examined was 124 +/- 60 cm; the length examined increased with experience, but the duration did not decrease. The percentage of patients in which a DBE had a helpful clinical impact rose from 58% in the first 50 DBEs, to 86% in the last 50 of 200 DBEs. The total enteroscopy rose from 8% in the first 50 DBEs, to 63% in the last 50 of 200 DBEs. LIMITATIONS: No follow-up data on outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: DBEs required significant time and did not always allow for a total enteroscopy. DBEs were safe and helpful in the management of most patients. An experienced endoscopist may perform a safe and useful DBE after limited training, but the development of expertise may require more than 100 to 150 DBE procedures.     

"Passive-bending colonoscope" significantly improves cecal intubation in difficult cases

Colonoscopy sometimes causes pain during insertion, especially in difficult cases. Over-insufflation of air causes elongation or acute angulations of the colon, making passage of the scope difficult and causing pain. We previously reported a sedative-risk-free colonoscopy insertion technique, namely, "Water Navigation Colonoscopy". Complete air suction after water infusion not only improves the vision, but also makes water flow down to the descending colon, while the sigmoid colon collapses and shortens. While non-sedative colonoscopy can be carried out without pain in most cases, some patients do complain of pain. Most of these patients have abnormal colon morphology, and the pain is caused while negotiating the "hairpin" bends of the colon. The "hairpin" bends of the colon should be negotiated by gently pushing the full-angled colonoscope. The proximal 10-20 cm from the angulated part of the conventional colonoscope is stiff, with a wide turning radius, therefore, a conventional colonoscope cannot be negotiated through the "hairpin" bends of the colon without stretching them and causing pain. The "passive-bending colonoscope" has a flexible tip with a narrow turning radius, so that the scope can be negotiated through the "hairpin" bends of the colon with a minimum turning radius and minimal discomfort. Therefore, the intubation and pain-reducing performance of the "passive-bending colonoscope" was assessed in difficult cases.     

Transparent-cap-fitted colonoscopy shows higher performance with cecal intubation time in difficult cases

AIM:To investigate the efficacy of cap-fitted colonoscopy(CFC) with regard to cecal intubation time.METHODS:Two hundred and ninety-five patients undergoing screening colonoscopy at Gospel Hospital,Kosin University College of Medicine were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial between January and December 2010.Colonoscopies were conducted by a single endoscopist.Patient characteristics including age,sex,body mass index,history of abdominal surgery,quality of preparation,and the presence of diverticulosis were recorded.RESULTS:One hundred and fifty patients were allocated into a CFC group and 145 into a non-CFC(NCF) group.Cecal intubations were achieved in all patients.Cecal intubation time in the CFC group was significantly shorter than in the NCF group for specific conditions:age ≥ 60 years,prior abdominal surgery,and poor bowel preparation.The number of detected adenomas was higher in the CFC group than in the NCF group(P = 0.040).CONCLUSION:CFC facilitated shortening of the cecal intubation time in difficult cases,and was more sensitive for detecting adenomas than was NCF.