Learning curve for double-balloon enteroscopy: Findings from an analysis of 282 procedures

Table 1 Target lesions from previous investigations prior to double-balloon enteroscopy

Modalities of investigation	Target lesions	n
Capsule endoscopy (total = 269)	Vascular lesions
	Angioectasia	100
	Red spots	9
	Neoplastic lesions
	Mass lesions	36
	Polyps	35
	Evidence of bleeding
	Blood	25
	Other lesions
	Ulcers	23
	Erosions	6
	Mucosal abnormality	5
	Enteritis	4
	Strictures	4
	Double pathology
	Angioectasia and polyps	9
	Angioectasia and ulcers	5
	Angioectasia and erosions	3
	Angioectasia and mass lesions	2
	Angioectasia and stricture	2
	Blood and mass lesion	1
CT scan (total = 13)	Thickened small bowel	8
	Mass lesions	5

CT: Computed tomography.

Table 2 Analysis of 184 cases of antegrade double-balloon enteroscopy with regards to technical success rate (divided into 6 blocks of 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 34 cases)

Block No.	Details on outcome			Cases classified as clinical success (a+b)	Success rate (%)	P1
	Target lesions found (a)	Target lesions excluded (b)	Failed (c)
1 (n = 30)	18	9	3	27/30	90.0	0.73
2 (n = 30)	20	6	4	26/30	86.7
3 (n = 30)	18	10	2	28/30	93.3
4 (n = 30)	17	10	3	27/30	90.0
5 (n = 30)	17	12	1	29/30	96.7
6 (n = 34)	16	12	6	28/34	82.4

¹Logistic regression analysis testing for trend over time. Overall success rate: 165/184 = 89.7%.

Table 3 Analysis of 98 cases of retrograde double-balloon enteroscopy with regard to technical success rate (divided into 3 blocks of 33, 33, 32 cases)

Block No.	Cases classified as technical success (finding the target lesion and/or stable overtube intubation in ileum)	Success rate (%)	P1
1 (n = 33)	23/33	70.0	0.09
2 (n = 33)	26/33	78.8
3 (n = 32)	28/32	87.5

¹Logistic regression analysis testing for trend over time. Overall success rate: 77/98 = 78.6%.