Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2005; 11(7): 1087-1089
Published online Feb 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i7.1087
Clinical outcomes of enteroscopy using the double-balloon method for strictures of the small intestine
Keijiro Sunada, Hironori Yamamoto, Hiroto Kita, Tomonori Yano, Hiroyuki Sato, Yoshikazu Hayashi, Tomohiko Miyata, Yutaka Sekine, Akiko Kuno, Michiko Iwamoto, Hirohide Ohnishi, Kenichi Ido, Kentaro Sugano
Keijiro Sunada, Hironori Yamamoto, Hiroto Kita, Tomonori Yano, Hiroyuki Sato, Yoshikazu Hayashi, Tomohiko Miyata, Yutaka Sekine, Akiko Kuno, Michiko Iwamoto, Hirohide Ohnishi, Kenichi Ido, Kentaro Sugano, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Jichi Medical School, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Mianamikawachi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Hironori Yamamoto, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Jichi Medical School, Yakushiji, Minamikawachi, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan. yamamoto@jichi.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-285-587348 Fax: +81-285-448297
Received: June 19, 2004
Revised: June 22, 2004
Accepted: August 2, 2004
Published online: February 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the clinical outcome of enteroscopy, using the double-balloon method, focusing on the involvement of neoplasms in strictures of the small intestine.

METHODS: Enteroscopy, using the double-balloon method, was performed between December 1999 and December 2002 at Jichi Medical School Hospital, Japan and strictures of the small intestine were found in 17 out of 62 patients. These 17 consecutive patients were subjected to analysis.

RESULTS: The double-balloon enteroscopy contributed to the diagnosis of small intestinal neoplasms found in 3 out of 17 patients by direct observation of the strictures as well as biopsy sampling. Surgical procedures were chosen for these three patients, while balloon dilation was chosen for the strictures in four patients diagnosed with inflammation without involvement of neoplasm.

CONCLUSION: Double-balloon enteroscopy is a useful method for the diagnosis and treatment of strictures in the small bowel.

Keywords: Double-balloon enteroscopy, Strictures, Small intestine