The clinical value of capsule endoscopy in pediatric and adolescent patients for small bowel diseases

Abstract

Objective To study the clinical value of capsule endoscopy for small bowel diseases in pediatric and adolescent patients. Methods Clinical data of 61 pediatric and adolescent patients who underwent capsule endoscopy from February 2007 to April 2014 was respectively analyzed. The positive diagnostic results and safety were observed. Results Of 61 patients, the CE procedures were completed successfully in 58 patients, and failed in 3 patients because of the gastric stasis. Forty-one positive lesions were found in small intestine, and the detection rate was 70.69%. Positive findings included angiodysplasias, Crohn's disease, Meckel diverticula, ulcer, P-J syndrome, protrusion lesion and enteritis, etc. Finally, 29 patients were confirmed (50%), 3(5.17%)were misdiagnosed and 1(1.72%)was missed. Twenty-two patients underwent other small bowel examinations besides the capsule endoscopy. And the accuracy of capsule endoscopy was 81.82%.All capsules were successfully swallowed by the patients and evacuated within two weeks. No complications such as capsule retention or intestinal obstruction occurred. Conclusion Capsule endoscopy is a safe and well tolerated procedure with high diagnostic rate, which has a prospective clinical value in small bowel diseases in pediatric and adolescent patients. Key words: Capsule endoscopy; Small bowel diseases; Minors; Clinical value