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Endoscopic Vacuum Therapy for the Treatment of Anastomotic Leakage after Total Gastrectomy with Esophagojejunostomy
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Evaluation and outcomes of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

Cositha Santhakumar1, Ken Liu1

  • 1Cositha Santhakumar, Ken Liu, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Level 1 West, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney NSW 2139, Australia.

World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology
|November 18, 2014
PubMed

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) is defined as recurrent or persistent bleeding or presence of iron deficiency anaemia after evaluation with a negative bidirectional endoscopy. OGIB accounts for 5% of gastrointestinal bleeding and presents a diagnostic challenge. Current modalities available for the investigation of OGIB include capsule endoscopy, balloon assisted enteroscopy, spiral enteroscopy and computed tomography enterography. These modalities overcome the limitations of previous techniques. Following a negative bidirectional endoscopy, capsule endoscopy and double balloon enteroscopy remain the cornerstone of investigation in OGIB given their high diagnostic yield. Long-term outcome data in patients with OGIB is limited, but is most promising for capsule endoscopy. This article reviews the current literature and provides an overview of the clinical evaluation of patients with OGIB, available diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and long-term clinical outcomes.

Keywords:
AnaemiaCapsule endoscopyDouble balloon enteroscopyObscure gastrointestinal bleedingOutcomes

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