Abstract
A prospective study of risks in upper intestinal endoscopy, liver biopsy, proctosigmoidoscopy, rectal biopsy, esophageal motility, intraesophageal pH probe tests and liver biopsy was conducted at 25 medical centers during an 18 month period from April 1, 1978 to October 1, 1979. 5,840 procedures were reported: 2046 upper intestinal endoscopies; 1,120 small intestinal biopsies; 1,400 proctosigmoidoscopies; 842 rectal biopsies; 432 esophageal motility and Tuttle tests, and 584 liver biopsies. Completeness of reporting varied from 88 to 99% of all procedures at participating centers. Total numbers of procedures varied from 5 to 50 per month. Some centers did not do all procedures. 20 of 25 institutions reported doing all the procedures. 5 of 25 did no esophageal function tests. Complications occurred in 1.7% of upper intestinal endoscopies; .5% of small intestinal biopsies; .2% of proctosigmoidoscopies; 1% of rectal biopsies, .3% of esophageal function tests and 4% of liver biopsies. Bronchospasm, transient respiratory arrest and phlebitis secondary to sedation were the commonest complications in those undergoing endoscopy; fever and sedation complications were commonest in small intestinal biopsy;only 1 hemorrhage requiring transfusion and 1 perforation were reported in this group. Fever and perforation of the rectum were the only serious complications at proctosigmoidoscopy. Rectal bleeding requiring transfusion and fever were the only complications in rectal biopsy and aspiration pneumonia and transient respiratory arrest the only ones in esophageal function tests. Liver biopsy had the greatest risk of complication with bleeding, pneumothorax and pain the 3 major complications.
Invasive diagnostic procedures in pediatric gastroenterology patients may be done with a low risk of complications. Information gained outweighs risk of procedures.
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Ament, M. 506 PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF RISKS OF COMPLICATION IN 6,424 PROCEDURES IN PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 524 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00519
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-00519
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