Search

Background: Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a very rare disease that often causes severe complications such as bowel obstruction or gastrointestinal tract bleeding. In the past, it was usually treated by using surgical intervention despite the associated complications. Balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) has been documented as an effective and safe method for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel lesions. Hence, we conducted this study to verify whether BAE is useful for patients with PJS., Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of BAE with prophylactic polypectomy in patients with PJS., Methods and Patients: From August 2005 to February 2010, 6 consecutive patients were diagnosed with PJS after pathological and clinical examination, and underwent BAE examination and polypectomy at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, an academic tertiary referral center., Results: Six consecutive patients (4 men and 2 women) diagnosed with PJS underwent BAE with polypectomy. BAE was performed 17 times for complete examination of the entire small bowel. The range of the diameter of the removed polyps was 1-6 cm. No immediate complications such as hemorrhage or hollow organ perforation were noted during the procedure, and no patient developed intussusception during the follow-up period (32 ± 17.5 months)., Conclusion: BAE with polypectomy is useful for patients with PJS in order to reduce the complications of the condition.

Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is an effective tool for diagnosing and treating obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. The aim is to describe how outcomes differ with patient setting (with DBE diagnosis and intervention, with DBE diagnosis but without intervention, and without DBE diagnosis), and thus demonstrate the value of endoscopic intervention when encountering potential bleeder during DBE. From November 2003 to January 2008, 90 patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding presented with DBE at our tertiary referral center. A total of 113 DBE procedures were carried out. Overall diagnostic yield was 75.6% (68/90). Endoscopic intervention was performed in 58 (85.3%) of the 68 patients with potential bleeder. The 90 patients were divided into three settings: with endoscopic diagnosis and intervention (n = 58), with endoscopic diagnosis but without intervention (n = 10), and without endoscopic diagnosis (n = 22). Rebleeding rates for the three groups were 22.4%, 60%, and 22.7%, respectively. For the 35 patients diagnosed with vascular lesions, the rebleeding rates in patients with and without endoscopic intervention, were 38.5% (10/26) and 66.7% (6/9), respectively. One (0.9%) severe adverse event occurred during the 113 procedures, and the patient died. DBE is an effective tool for diagnosing and treating obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. DBE involves relatively safe procedures and has an acceptable complication rate. When potential bleeders are encountered during the procedure, especially for vascular lesions, therapeutic intervention should be attempted, since the intervention-related complication rate is acceptable, and such intervention can reduce the rebleeding rate and enhance the cost-effectiveness of DBE.

Diagnosing and treating patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is clinically challenging. Most lesions responsible for the origin of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding are located in the small bowel. Double-balloon enteroscopy is a novel method for exploring the small intestine and has significant therapeutic potential. This study evaluated the value of double-balloon enteroscopy in diagnosing and managing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. From October 2003 to January 2006, a total of 20 patients (6 men, 14 women; mean age, 55.2 years old) with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (18 obscure overt bleeding, 2 obscure occult bleeding) were investigated by double-balloon enteroscopy. A total of 29 procedures (15 via oral approach and 14 via rectal approach) were performed. The diagnostic yield, endoscopic therapeutic procedures, complications, and outcome were then assessed. Small bowel lesions potentially responsible for the bleeding were identified in 15 (75%) of 20 patients, including 9 angiodysplasias, 2 gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), 2 ulcers, 1 jejunal granulation polyp, and 1 Peutz-Jeghers polyposis. Endoscopic treatments including heater probe coagulation, polypectomy, and endoscopic mucosal resection were performed in 11 patients. Two patients with GISTs received surgical intervention. Two patients with angiodysplasias that endoscopic treatment failed underwent laparoscopic resections following tattooing. There were no complications and the procedures were tolerated well. Among the 15 patients who had a lesion identified with subsequent treatment, rebleeding occurred in 3 (20%) patients with angiodysplasias. Of the five patients in whom no definite lesion was detected, rebleeding developed in four (80%). For patients with an identified lesion that was further treated, the rebleeding rate was lower than for those with "persistent" obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (P=0.031). We conclude that double-balloon enteroscopy offers a safe and effective method for diagnosing and managing patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.