One thousand small-bowel biopsies in children. A single-port versus a double-port capsule

Small-bowel biopsy is a well-established technique in the evaluation of children with intestinal malabsorption, e.g. coeliac disease. The biopsy is performed endoscopically or with a peroral capsule instrument. The aim of the present retrospective study was to compare the single-port Watson capsule with the double-port Storz capsule with regard to procedure and fluoroscopy time, complications and failure rate.

All 1,078 peroral small-bowel biopsies performed at our department during 1989-99 were studied. In 387 of these, the Watson capsule was used and in the remaining 691 the Storz capsule. Median age of the children was 2.5 years. About one-third of the children were premedicated with the prokinetic drug cisapride and as sedatives alimemazine or diazepam orally. Two-thirds of the children were given metoclopramide along with midazolam intravenously. The biopsies were performed under intermittent fluoroscopy.

The median biopsy procedure time was significantly shorter with the Storz capsule (7 min) compared to the Watson capsule (10 min) (P < 0.05). The median fluoroscopy time was 5 sec with the Storz capsule and 8 sec with the Watson capsule (P < 0.01). The failure rate did not differ significantly between the two capsule types: 10.3% (Watson) and 7.7% (Storz). One potential but no serious complication occurred.

Providing that effective sedation is available, small-bowel biopsy with a peroral capsule, and the Storz double-port multibiopsy capsule in particular, is a safe and fast method exposing the child to a minimal radiation dose.