Efficacy and safety of double balloon enteroscopy in patients with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome: Single center experience

Abstract

Background and Aims: Our understanding of the clinical outcomes of double balloon enteroscopy in individuals with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is limited. The purpose of this study is to assess double balloon enteroscopy’s effectiveness and safety in managing small intestinal polyps in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome patients. Materials and Methods: Data from 16 Peutz-Jeghers syndrome patients who underwent double balloon enteroscopy at our center between January 2007 and March 2020 have been collected. The study included patients with polyps larger than 1 cm in diameter. Results: Sixteen patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome underwent a total of 79 double balloon enteroscopy procedures, and a total of 469 polyps larger than 1 cm were found in 76 oral/anal double balloon enteroscopies. Over 80 polyps seen in the small intestinal segments were removed using endoscopic polypectomy during intraoperative double balloon enteroscopy. Four patients underwent intraoperative enteroscopy in addition to double balloon enteroscopy and over 200 polyps were removed via endoscopic polypectomy. A total of 19 complications which was related with procedures and anesthesia occurred either during or after the 79 double balloon enteroscopy procedures. All procedure related complications were treated with minimally invasive methods. After double balloon enteroscopy, two patients underwent surgery (one with invagination, the other with adhesion ileus). Conclusion: Double balloon enteroscopy can be considered a reliable and effective method in the diagnosis and long-term follow-up of patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.