Clinical outcomes after double-balloon enteroscopy in patients with obscure GI bleeding and a positive capsule...

Obscure GI bleeding (OGIB) accounts for about 5% of all patients with GI bleeding. There are limited data on double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) after a positive finding on capsule endoscopy (CE) in this setting.

To determine the clinical outcomes after DBE therapy.

Prospective single-center cohort study.

Tertiary referral university hospital.

Recurrent bleeding and blood transfusion requirements.

This prospective study of 60 consecutive patients with OGIB was conducted between July 2004 and March 2006. Patients underwent CE before DBE to target the lesion for either further diagnostic evaluation or therapeutic intervention. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) duration of follow-up was 10.0 +/- 5.2 months.

The mean (SD) age was 62 +/- 18 years, with 31 men. A total of 74 DBE procedures were performed. An abnormality was seen by DBE in 45 patients (75%). In 12 patients (20%), a diagnosis was clarified or a new diagnosis was made. Therapy at DBE was performed in 34 patients (57%): 30 diathermies and 4 polypectomies. Endoscopic tattooing for targeted surgical removal was made in 3 additional patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified previous blood transfusion (odds ratio 10.5, 95% confidence interval 3.1-35; P < .001) to be the only independent predictor that required endoscopic therapy at DBE. Forty-eight patients (80%) had no further bleeding, and 46 patients (77%) had a normal Hb. Blood transfusion requirements fell from 34 patients to 10, P < .001. One patient had a perforation after therapeutic diathermy.

Nonrandomized study.

In patients with OGIB and a positive finding on CE, DBE provided a safe and ambulatory method to achieve an excellent clinical outcome with significant reductions in recurrent bleeding and blood-transfusion requirements.