Abstract

Background
/Aims: Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) and capsule endoscopy (CE) are two new methods for evaluating small bowel diseases. However, the clinical relevance of these procedures remains to be uncovered. We investigated the diagnostic and therapeutic impact of DBE and CE for patients with suspected small bowel diseases. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 60 patients who were examined by DBE or CE for suspected small bowel diseases between May 2003 and September 2005. The diagnostic yield and therapeutic impact were compared between the two groups. Results: Thirty-five patients were examined by CE and 25 patients were examined by DBE. DBE showed abnormal findings in 20 patients (80%). CE detected abnormal findings in 23 patients (65.7%). The overall diagnostic yield was not different between the two groups (p=0.226). In the DBE group, therapeutic interventions were performed in 18 patients (72%). In the CE group, therapeutic interventions were performed in 7 patients (20%). The overall therapeutic impact showed a significant difference between the two procedures (p<0.001). Conclusions: Although there is no significant difference in the diagnostic yield between the two procedures, DBE appears to have a higher therapeutic yield than CE for patients with suspected small bowel diseases. (Korean J Gastrointest Endosc 2007;35:379-384)

• Keywords: Double balloon enteroscopy, Capsule endoscopy, Small intestine