[Endoscopy of the small bowel: light into the dark].

Since the introduction of capsule endoscopy and later balloon enteroscopy in clinical practice, endoscopic examination of the small bowel has dramatically improved. For the first time, it is possible to diagnose the whole small bowel without the necessity of laparotomy and intraoperative enteroscopy. The methods revolutionized the field of small bowel diagnostic and therapy and become part of daily clinical practice. This article provides a review of small bowel enteroscopic methods.