Gastrointestinal intervention in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric radiology
• Interventional radiology
• Gastrointestinal procedures

Background:

• Interventional radiology is expanding within pediatrics.
• Non-vascular interventional techniques are applicable to the pediatric gastrointestinal tract.
• Procedure complexity varies, with simpler techniques being more widely adopted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review common and less common non-vascular interventional radiology procedures in the pediatric gastrointestinal tract.
• To highlight techniques suitable for general pediatric radiologists and those requiring specialized centers.

Main Methods:

• Review of non-vascular interventional radiology techniques in pediatric patients.
• Categorization of procedures based on complexity and frequency.
• Emphasis on gastrointestinal tract interventions.

Main Results:

• Common procedures include esophageal dilatation, gastrostomy, transgastric jejunal tube insertion, and biopsy.
• Less common interventions in salivary, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and intestinal systems are also discussed.
• A spectrum of techniques exists, from those easily adopted to those needing specialized expertise.

Conclusions:

• Paediatric interventional radiology encompasses a range of gastrointestinal procedures.
• Simpler techniques are broadly applicable, while complex ones necessitate specialized pediatric centers.
• This review provides an overview of key interventional radiology applications in pediatric gastroenterology.