Push enteroscopy: a single centre experience and review of published series

To assess the efficacy of push enteroscopy in a single tertiary hospital and review the available literature to assess the overall diagnostic yield of push enteroscopy.

Review of a database on push enteroscopy in a tertiary hospital from 1997 to 1999. This included 100 consecutive patients who underwent push enteroscopy. Review of all large published series on push enteroscopy to date to obtain an overall diagnostic yield.

The diagnostic yield for patients with gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding was 47% and for patients with suspected small bowel disease was 33%. Angiodysplasia was the most common diagnosis in patients with GI blood loss. Patients with active GI bleeding had a higher diagnostic yield. The procedure was tolerated well and no complications occurred. Review of the literature showed an overall diagnostic yield of 44% (498 of 1 136 patients) for patients with GI blood loss and 38% (108 of 286 patients) for suspected small bowel disease.

Push enteroscopy has a good diagnostic yield and is valuable in patients with GI blood loss and suspected small bowel disease.