Double Balloon Endoscopy -Indications and after procedure

With DBE it is possible to:

• Examine parts of the small bowel that are usually difficult to reach • Diagnose and assess smalAl bowel diseases and disorders • Investigate the small bowel when X-rays, barium follow through, enteroclysis, CT or MRI scans show abnormalities • Evaluate the effects of medication on the small bowel e.g. for disorders such as Coeliac or Crohn's disease • Tattoo the small bowel to help localise lesions for surgery when these need to be removed • Perform therapy (treatment)

Treatment or therapy using DBE for a number of conditions is available (unlike capsule endoscopy):

• Bleeding from small bowel angioectasias or AV malformations • Removal of foreign objects (e.g. retained capsules) or polyps especially for patients with polyposis syndromes (e.g. Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome or Juvenile Polyposis) • Dilatation of strictures (or stenoses) causing obstruction due to Crohn's disease, surgery or medication (such as NSAIDs) • Placing of feeding tubes (direct jejunostomy) • Tissue biopsies can be taken to help make a diagnosis Double Balloon Endoscopy - After Procedure Prior to the procedure: • Patients need to fast 6 hours for an oral (through the mouth) procedure • If a rectal (through the colon) procedure is needed, bowel preparation is usually required • Iron tablets and aspirin should be stopped for 1 week Following the procedure: • Patients recover in a comfortable environment and are generally discharged to home the same day.