[Comparison of push-type endoscopy and barium transit study of the small intestine in digestive bleeding and unexplained iron-deficiency anemia].

OBJECTIVES

A radiological examination of the small bowel is often performed in case of gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin. More recently, push-type enteroscopy has been reported as a valuable tool in this indication. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnosis efficiency of these two procedures.

METHODS

From February 1994 to February 1996, 40 patients (mean age: 52 years) with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (iron-deficiency anemia without obvious cause of blood loss or malabsorption: n = 17; macroscopic gastrointestinal bleeding: n = 23) were examined by small bowel follow-through and push-type enteroscopy (jejunoscopy n = 19; double way examination n = 21). Each patient had negative upper and lower gastrointestinal tract endoscopies prior to small bowel examinations.

RESULTS

Small bowel follow-through revealed only one lesion potentially responsible for blood loss (2.5%), corresponding to a jejunal leiomyoma. Push-type enteroscopy detected small bowel lesions potentially responsible for blood loss in 6 patients (15%). The lesions were located in the jejunum in 5 cases (arteriovenous malformations: n = 3; metastasis: n = 1; leiomyoma: n = 1), in the ileum in 1 case (leiomyoma). The efficiency of push-type enteroscopy for the detection of a small bowel lesion was of 22% in case of macroscopic bleeding and of 6% in case of iron-deficiency anemia. Push-type enteroscopy also revealed lesions previously undetected by gastroscopy or colonoscopy in 8 patients (20%).

CONCLUSION

Push-type enteroscopy was more effective than small bowel follow-through to detect the origin of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Push-type enteroscopy revealed a cause of bleeding in 35% of patients, located in the small bowel in only 15% of the patients.