Related Experiment Videos
Profile of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children from a tropical country
A K Khurana1, A Saraya, N Jain
1Dept. of Medicine, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a safe and effective diagnostic tool for evaluating recurrent lower gastrointestinal bleeding in children. This endoscopic procedure can accurately identify common causes like juvenile polyps and amoebic ulcers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Endoscopic Procedures
Background:
- Recurrent lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is a common concern in pediatric patients.
- Endoscopic evaluation is crucial for diagnosing the underlying cause of GI bleeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of flexible sigmoidoscopy in diagnosing recurrent lower GI bleeding in children.
- To determine if flexible sigmoidoscopy alone is adequate for diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-five children with recurrent lower GI bleeding underwent endoscopic evaluation.
- Procedures included flexible sigmoidoscopy and, in select cases, full colonoscopy.
- Diagnosis was based on findings such as juvenile polyps, amoebic ulcers, and solitary rectal ulcers.
Main Results:
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy alone established the diagnosis in 76 out of 85 cases (89.4%).
- Common findings included juvenile polyps (40 cases), amoebic ulcers (20 cases), solitary rectal ulcers (4 cases), and polyposis syndrome (5 cases).
- Full colonoscopy was performed in only 16 cases for disease extent or unclear sigmoidoscopy findings.
Conclusions:
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a safe and adequate standalone procedure for diagnosing prolonged, recurrent lower GI bleeding in children.
- This approach can help avoid more extensive and potentially unnecessary colonoscopies.
Abstract:
Eighty five children were evaluated endoscopically for recurrent lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. The male: female ratio was 2.4:1 with a mean age of 6 years (range 8 months to 2 years). After adequate bowel preparation endoscopic evaluation was done using olympus CF 101 colonoscope. Sedation was given only in two patients. Full length colonoscopy had been done in 16 cases only, to look for extent of disease in 8 cases and to ascertain site of bleeding when no lesion could be seen on sigmoidoscopy. Juvenile polyps were seen in 40 cases, amoebic ulcer in 20, solitary rectal ulcer in 4 and polyposis syndrome in 5 cases. Sigmoidoscopy alone could establish the diagnose in 76 cases. We conclude that flexible sigmoidoscopy alone is safe and adequate in ascertaining the cause of prolonged recurrent lower GI bleeding.