Diagnostic Impact of Double-balloon Enteroscopy (DBE) in Small Bowel Diseases

Objective:To prospectively assess the diagnostic impact of double-balloon enteroscopy(DBE) in patients with suspected small bowel disease.Methods:135 patients referring to our hospital for suspected small bowel disease underwent DBE.Starting insertion route(oral or anal) of DBE was chosen according to the estimated location of the suspected lesions basing on the clinical presentation and on the findings,when available,of previous endoscopic or radiological investigations.Oral and anal route DBE were performed in 92 and 23 patients respectively,while 20 patients underwent a combination of both approaches.Results:155 DBE procedures were carried out.Overall diagnostic yield of DBE resulted 78.52%(106/135).Most common pathological findings included tumours(n=45),Crohn's disease(n=26),non-specific enteric inflammation(n=14),lymphangiectasia(n=7),angiodysplasias(n=6),allergic purpura(n=2) and intestinal pneumatosis cystoids,intussusception,iliem diverticulosis,double iliem dysplasia,intestinal polyp and ascaris(n=1) individually.The positive rate of DBE for intestinal bleeding is 86.84%(33/38).It took 30 and 50 minutes on oral and anal insertion route respectively.No major complications related to the procedure occurred.Conclusions:DBE is a useful,safe and well-tolerated new method with a high diagnostic impact for the management of suspected small bowel diseases.