Complications of double balloon enteroscopy: a multicenter survey

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is an advanced endoscopic technique for small bowel visualization.
• Limited data exists on the complication rates associated with DBE procedures.
• This study aims to determine the complication frequency of both diagnostic and therapeutic DBE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the overall complication rate of diagnostic and therapeutic double balloon enteroscopy.
• To compare the safety profile of DBE with other endoscopic procedures.
• To identify specific complications associated with DBE.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, multinational study involving 10 centers across four continents.
• Data collected on adverse events from 2362 DBE procedures.
• Complications were defined based on existing literature, with therapeutic DBE involving interventions like argon plasma coagulation or balloon dilation.

Main Results:

• A total of 40 complications occurred in 2362 DBE procedures (1.7%).
• Diagnostic DBE had a low complication rate of 0.8% (13/1728), while therapeutic DBE had a higher rate of 4.3% (27/634).
• Most complications were minor (0.9%), with moderate (0.3%) and severe (0.6%) events also reported; no fatal complications occurred. Pancreatitis occurred in 0.3% of cases.

Conclusions:

• Diagnostic DBE demonstrates a favorable safety profile with minimal complications.
• Therapeutic DBE exhibits a higher complication rate compared to therapeutic colonoscopy, necessitating further research into causative factors.
• While rare, pancreatitis is a potential complication of DBE and should be considered in post-procedure patient evaluations.