Published online Jan 28, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i4.614
Peer-review started: August 12, 2016
First decision: September 5, 2016
Revised: September 16, 2016
Accepted: October 19, 2016
Article in press: October 19, 2016
Published online: January 28, 2017
Processing time: 160 Days and 7.2 Hours
To determine the frequency of bleeding source detection in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) who underwent double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) after pre-procedure imaging [multiphase computed tomography enterography (MPCTE), video capsule endoscopy (VCE), or both] and assess the impact of imaging on DBE diagnostic yield.
Retrospective cohort study using a prospectively maintained database of all adult patients presenting with OGIB who underwent DBE from September 1st, 2002 to June 30th, 2013 at a single tertiary center.
Four hundred and ninety five patients (52% females; median age 68 years) underwent DBE for OGIB. AVCE and/or MPCTE performed within 1 year prior to DBE (in 441 patients) increased the diagnostic yield of DBE (67.1% with preceding imaging vs 59.5% without). Using DBE as the gold standard, VCE and MPCTE had a diagnostic yield of 72.7% and 32.5% respectively. There were no increased odds of finding a bleeding site at DBE compared to VCE (OR = 1.3, P = 0.150). There were increased odds of finding a bleeding site at DBE compared to MPCTE (OR = 5.9, P < 0.001). In inpatients with overt OGIB, diagnostic yield of DBE was not affected by preceding imaging.
DBE is a safe and well-tolerated procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of OGIB, with a diagnostic yield that may be increased after obtaining a preceding VCE or MPCTE. However, inpatients with active ongoing bleeding may benefit from proceeding directly to antegrade DBE.
Core tip: The yield of double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) without preceding video capsule endoscopy (VCE) or multiphase computed tomography enterography (MPCTE) was 59.4%, and with preceding imaging was 67.5%. Overall diagnostic yield of antegrade DBE is superior to CTE and equivalent to VCE in the evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. The diagnostic yields of DBE for inpatients vs outpatients were similar but the highest sensitivity of VCE using DBE as gold standard was in inpatients (84.9%). The incremental diagnostic yield of DBE of all patients with negative preceding VCE and MPCTE was 66% (35/53 patients). An appropriate strategy might be antegrade DBE in inpatients with evidence of ongoing bleeding if DBE is available.