Yamamoto Hironori, Kita Hiroto
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Jichi Medical School, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Minamikawachi, Kawachi, Tochigi 329-0598, Japan.
Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2006 Apr;16(2):347-61. doi: 10.1016/j.giec.2006.02.002.
The history of the double-balloon endoscope from conception to development and practical application has been described. The theory itself is quite simple, and there were opinions doubting its practicality at the early stage of development.Double-balloon endoscopes, however, are commercially available now. They have been used widely, and their usefulness has been recognized. When development of the double-balloon endoscope was progressing, development of capsule endoscopes also was progressing. The authors often heard opinions that, since capsule endoscopes were expected to become commercially available in the near future, it was out-of-date to devise a method to insert an enteroscope into the small intestine. The authors, however, believed that if the use of capsule endoscopes spread, the necessity of an enteroscope that can reach the entire area in the small intestine would not disappear, but become even bigger. If any abnormal finding is detected by a capsule endoscope, the necessity of enteroscopy for a detailed examination increases. This is being proven at present.
本文描述了双气囊内镜从构思到研发及实际应用的历史。其理论本身相当简单，在研发初期曾有人质疑其实用性。然而，如今双气囊内镜已在市场上销售。它们已得到广泛应用，其效用也已得到认可。在双气囊内镜研发取得进展的同时，胶囊内镜的研发也在推进。作者经常听到这样的观点，即由于预计胶囊内镜在不久的将来会上市，设计一种将小肠镜插入小肠的方法已过时。然而，作者认为，如果胶囊内镜的使用得以普及，能够到达小肠全部区域的小肠镜的必要性不仅不会消失，反而会变得更大。如果胶囊内镜检测到任何异常发现，为进行详细检查而进行小肠镜检查的必要性就会增加。目前这一点已得到证实。
