Double-balloon endoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of small intestinal disease: initial experience in 21 patients

Aim: Until recently, only the proximal small bowel was accessible for diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy. Endoscopic evaluation of this organ has often required open laparotomy with surgically assisted passage of the endoscope through the intestine. Recently, Yamamoto et al have developed a new method, double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) that allows high-resolution visualization, biopsies, and therapeutic interventions in all segments of the GI tract. Our aim was to report our early experience with the Fujinon EN-450 T5 therapeutic double-balloon endoscope. Methods: Between August 2005 and February 2006, 23 DBE was…