Abstract
Thirty children ranging from 2 to 17 years of age have undergone 32 gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures. A variety of flexible fiberoptic instruments were utilized. The recently available Olympus GIF-P (tip diameter 7.2 mm) appears to be a significant advancement for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Preparation and anesthesia for the cases varied with the age of the child and the nature of the procedure. A definitive diagnosis was made solely by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in 6 of 6 procedures performed for upper gastrointestinal bleeding, 2 of 6 for ulcer-type pain, 0 of 2 for gastric outlet obstruction, 1 of 4 for possible esophagitis, and each procedure performed for single cases of dysphagia, pre-pyloric mass, possible esophageaI varices, and antral deformity in a patient with regional enteritis. A definitive diagnosis was made solely by colonoscopy in 1 of 5 patients with possible inflammatory bowel disease and 0 of 1 patient with lower gastrointestinal bleeding; 4 of 4 polypectomies were successful. Non-diagnostic or normal examinations almost invariably yielded valuable information. There were no significant complications. Our experience suggests that gastrointestinal endoscopy is a safe and valuable procedure which offers promise as a sensitive diagnostic tool in infants and children.
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Gleason, W., Tedesco, F., Keating, J. et al. GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 8, 381 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00245
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00245