Fiberendoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract in children. A series of 100 examinations.

This article reports the results of our first 100 examinations of the upper gastrointestinal tract and the colon in children and infants, using standard fiberscopes and also pediatric models. The procedure could be performed under sedation in 80% of the cases and general anesthesia was required mainly with standard fiberscopes. Compared to roentgenographic findings, fiberendoscopy proved to be more reliable in superficial mucosal lesions and gastrointestinal bleeding. Colonoscopy though difficult, is valuable in diagnosing rectal bleeding lesions and as a follow-up technique in inflammatory bowel diseases.