[Rol of double-balloon enteroscopy in the management of small intestine diseases: experience in the National Hospital Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, Lima, Peru].

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic utility, safeness, efficacy and complications of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This prospective, descriptive study of DBE took place between July 2010 and June 2015 at the service of Gastroenterology of Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen- Lima Peru. 129 DBE were performed in 121 patients with the Fujinon EN-450T5 double balloon enteroscope, with conscious sedation and with previous bowel preparation. All of them signed an informed consent.

RESULTS

The mean age was 56.6 years. Capsule endoscopy intestinal study was performed previously in 77 patients (63.6%). The most frequent indication for DBE was bleeding of middle intestine (61.2%). The approach used was more antegrade (69%). The maximum distance reached was 570 cm in antegrade method. The average duration for both routes is 117.45 minutes. Vascular ecstasies (56.1%) were the most frequent causes of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnostic yield was 83.7%, higher than other series. The most widely used therapeutic procedure was argón plasma thermo coagulation. Like other studies, patients had good tolerance to the procedure and no major complications.

CONCLUSIONS

In our patients studied the EDB has proven to be a secure, useful and efficient technique for the diagnosis and treatment of several diseases of the small intestine, especially in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.