Double-balloon endoscopy.

In 1997, we devised a method of enteroscopy that uses 2 balloons, 1 balloon attached to the tip of the endoscope and the other balloon attached to the distal end of a soft overtube. We reported that endoscopic observation of the entire small intestine was possible with this method by using an endoscope of 200-cm working length. This double-balloon endoscopy system now is available commercially. We have experience with more than 250 cases of enteroscopy since September 2000 using the double-balloon endoscope including our experience with the prototype. Recently, a new therapeutic type of double-balloon endoscope was developed. The new type has an accessory channel of 2.8 mm, which is bigger than the 2.2-mm accessory channel of the standard double-balloon endoscope.