Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy in chidren.

Fibre-optic endoscopy of the upper gastro-intestinal tract has been successfully performed in 55 patients (60 examinations) with one complication related to general anaesthesia. Fifty-six of these examinations were performed under general anaesthesia in children ranging from 1 to 14 years. Four examinations were done without an anaesthetic. The instruments used were the Olympus GIF-K (forward oblique gastroscope) in the older children and the GIF-P2 (end-viewing paediatric gastroscope) in the younger patients. Indications for examination included gastro-intestinal bleeding, confirmation or exclusion of peptic ulceration as suspected on barium studies, persistent and recurrent vomiting, chronic abdominal pain, and the evaluation of gastro-oesophageal reflux. The need for careful selection of patients is emphasized since general anaesthesia is considered essential in the majority of chidren.