Small bowel enteroscopy in 1988: pros and cons.

Endoscopic visualization of the small bowel is now feasible with a recently developed long, small-caliber, transnasal endoscope. Previously, with standard instruments, endoscopic views of the small intestine were limited to the most proximal and distal portions or required laparotomy and intraoperative endoscopy. Small bowel enteroscopy with the new transnasal sondetype flexible endoscope now allows most of the small bowel to be examined as a relatively short, ambulatory procedure. The literature pertaining to endoscopic evaluation of the small intestine is reviewed.