| Theme | Indications and Standards of Practice for Emergency Endoscopy | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Emergency Endoscopy in Children | |
| Publish Date | 2018/05 | |
| Author | Yoshiko Nakayama | Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | In children, urgent endoscopy is primarily indicated in patients with active bleeding or foreign body ingestion. Acute gastrointestinal bleeding can occur from a variety of sources in pediatric patients. Endoscopic evaluation is performed, and several endoscopic techniques are used to achieve hemostasis after stabilization of the patient's condition. Foreign body ingestion is an extremely challenging clinical scenario faced by a pediatrician. Emergency foreign body removal in children is indicated in those presenting with any symptomatic esophageal foreign body and for asymptomatic children with button batteries in the esophagus. The technical aspects of performing an endoscopy and the therapeutic techniques are essentially similar between children and adults. The primary difference corresponds to the smaller size of all endoscopic equipment required to evaluate the smaller anatomical structures in infants and young children. Emergency endoscopy is associated with a higher risk of complications, which include the aspiration of gastric contents or decompensated cardiopulmonary function. In emergency situations, general anesthesia offers advantages to the endoscopist by providing close monitoring of the airways and cardiorespiratory function, as well as ensures patient immobility. |
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