Feasibility of small bowel capsule endoscopy in children under the age of 4 years: a single centre experience.

Data on the use of wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in younger children remain limited. However, this single centre study suggests that it is a relatively complication-free procedure that may be considered in younger children below 4 years of age, when small bowel pathology is suspected. We retrospectively reviewed the King's College Hospital WCE database between August 2009 and August 2011. Patients aged 4 years or younger were included in the study. Six children fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The indications for WCE were unexplained gastrointestinal tract (GIT) bleeding (n=4), chronic diarrhoea with (n=1) and without (n=1) GIT bleeding (n=1). All had an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and an ileocolonoscopy before WCE. The mean age at the time of WCE was 2 years 6 months (range 1 year 7 months to 3 years 7 months). The mean weight at WCE was 13.3 kg (range 9-17 kg). Four children had a complete study.