Safety and efficacy of the endoscopic delivery of capsule endoscopes in adult and pediatric patients: Multicenter Japanese study (AdvanCE-J study)

Paediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy in the Asian-Pacific region: Recent advances in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques

There has been a rapid expansion in the knowledge of paediatric gastroenterology over the recent decade, with a fast-growing repertoire of diagnostic techniques and management strategies for a wide spectrum of childhood gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. Paediatric GI endoscopy is a core competency every paediatric gastroenterologist should possess, and represents one of the most common procedures performed in children for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Yet there remains a dearth of literature on the utility and outcomes of paediatric GI endoscopy in the Asia-Pacific region. Data on the diagnostic value of paediatric GI endoscopy would be an important aspect of discussion, with the emergence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and eosinophilic GI disease as increasingly common endoscopic diagnoses. Time-based trends in paediatric GI endoscopy do point towards more IBD and gastroesophageal reflux disease-related complications being diagnosed, with a declining incidence of GI bleeding. However, the real-world diagnostic value of endoscopy in Asia must be contextualised to the region-specific prevalence of paediatric GI diseases. Helicobacter pylori infection, particularly that of multidrug-resistant strains, remains a highly prevalent problem in specific regions. Paediatric functional GI disorders still account for the majority of childhood GI complaints in most centres, hence the diagnostic yield of endoscopy should be critically evaluated in the absence of alarm symptoms. GI therapeutic endoscopy is also occasionally required for children with ingested foreign bodies, intestinal polyposis or oesophageal strictures requiring dilation. Endoscopic haemostasis is a potentially life-saving skill in cases of massive GI bleeding typically from varices or peptic ulcers. Advanced endoscopic techniques such as capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy have found traction, particularly in East Asian centres, as invaluable diagnostic and therapeutic tools in the management of IBD, obscure GI bleeding and intestinal polyposis. State of the art endoscopic diagnostics and therapeutics, including the use of artificial intelligence-aided endoscopy algorithms, real-time confocal laser endomicroscopy and peroral endoscopic myotomy, are expected to gain more utility in paediatrics. As paediatric gastroenterology matures as a subspecialty in Asia, it is essential current paediatric endoscopists and future trainees adhere to minimum practice standards, and keep abreast of the evolving trends in the diagnostic and therapeutic value of endoscopy. This review discusses the available published literature on the utility of paediatric GI endoscopy in Asia Pacific, with the relevant clinical outcomes.

AdvanCE, a capsule endoscope delivery device, is effective in investigating a waterfall stomach

AdvanCE is a useful device in patients who cannot swallow capsule endoscopes, or when these remain in the patient's stomach without passing into the duodenum. A net or snare may be used to guide the capsule endoscope into the duodenum when the capsule endoscope becomes stuck in the stomach, but it may be difficult to guide the capsule into the duodenum in some cases, particularly in those of waterfall stomach. In such cases, AdvanCE is found to be an effective guidance tool.

Small bowel endoscopy for children: Collaboration of capsule endoscopy and device-assisted enteroscopy

Capsule endoscopy (CE) and balloon-assisted enteroscopy (BAE) have become indispensable techniques for the diagnosis and management of small bowel disease in both adult and pediatric cases. However, relevant differences exist in the indications between these cohorts, with body weight and age having particular relevance in decisions for the latter. Both CE and BAE are designed for adult physique and they were not widely used among children. In addition, the types of small intestinal diseases differ between adults and children, and consequently, the indications also differ between them. This review focuses on the issues relevant to pediatric cases and describes the practical application of endoscopy in clinical practice. In conclusion, although there are age and weight restrictions, both CE and BAE are safe and useful devices for use in children, and their indications for use in children are likely to expand in the future.

Small bowel capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: A matched cohort comparison of patients with normal vs surgically altered gastric anatomy

BACKGROUND

Little is known about small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) outcomes in patients with surgically altered anatomy.

AIMS

To assess the feasibility and diagnostic yield of orally ingested SBCE to investigate obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) in patients with surgically altered gastric anatomy, compared to native gastric anatomy.

METHODS

207 patients with OGIB were selected from an open, multicenter, retrospective cohort (SAGA study) and match-paired according to age, gender and bleeding type (overt/occult) to 207 control patients from a randomized controlled trial (PREPINTEST). Primary outcomes were the diagnostic yield (P1 or P2 findings), completion rate, adverse events rate, and small bowel transit time (SBTT).

RESULTS

The diagnostic yield was not statistically different between groups (44.9% in SAGA vs 42.5% in control patients). Inflammatory/ulcerated lesions were significantly more frequent in patients with SAGA (43.0% vs 29.3%). The median SBTT was significantly longer in the SAGA group than in control patients (283 vs 206 minutes), with a significantly lower completion rate (82.6% vs 89.9%); Adverse events were scarce (0.5% vs 0.0%).

CONCLUSION

Patients with surgically altered gastric anatomy should benefit from SBCE investigation for OGIB as much as non-operated patients.