Colonoscopy in children with bleeding per rectum

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Colorectal Diseases

Background:

• Limited data exists on pediatric colonoscopy procedures.
• Rectal bleeding is a common concern in pediatric patients.
• Determining the etiology of bleeding is crucial for appropriate management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of colonoscopy in children presenting with bleeding per rectum.
• To determine the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy in pediatric patients.
• To assess the therapeutic potential of colonoscopy in managing pediatric colorectal conditions.

Main Methods:

• Colonoscopy was performed on 26 children (mean age 63.5 months) with rectal bleeding.
• Procedures were conducted under sedation (pethidine and diazepam) or general anesthesia.
• Histopathological analysis was performed on tissue samples.

Main Results:

• Colonoscopy identified the cause of bleeding in most pediatric patients.
• Diagnoses included colitis (10 children), juvenile polyps (5 children), lymphoid hyperplasia (1 child), and solitary sigmoid ulcer (1 child).
• Five children with bleeding polyps underwent successful endoscopic removal.

Conclusions:

• Colonoscopy is a safe and valuable diagnostic procedure for children with rectal bleeding.
• It offers therapeutic benefits, such as polyp removal, in pediatric patients.
• The study supports the routine use of colonoscopy in the pediatric population for evaluating lower gastrointestinal bleeding.