[Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to small bowel disorders through capsule endoscopy and double-balloon endoscopy]

Many small bowel disorders represent a great challenge for gastroenterologists and endoscopists due to the very low rates of success showed by the different agnosis techniques. The advent of the capsule endoscopy and double-balloon endoscopy has allowed a total, secure and efficient examination of the small bowel, which represents a real impact in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of our patients. The capsule endoscopy is a safe, minimally invasive procedure, which does not need sedation, does not cause pain, and allows the observation of the totality of the small bowel. Furthermore, the double-balloon endoscopy is the complementary technique necessary to provide a therapeutic procedure (cauterizing angiodysplasia, polypectomy, biopsies), and hence achieving resolution of various disorders.