| [ Summary ] |
Endoscopic examination of the small intestine is very difficult. However, it is easy to examine and treat the small intestine with double balloon endoscopy (DBE) and capsule endoscopy (CE). Recently, it has become the routine method in many countries to perform examinations or endoscopic treatments with DBE after screening CE examination. However, CE has not been authorized by the Ministry of Public Welfare in Japan. Therefore, CE is available in very few hospitals. Because of this, it is important to combine the common radiological examinations with DBE in the diagnostic algorithm of the small intestine. In our hospital, we use different algorithms in cases of emergent obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) and the other diseases. The efficacy of using these algorithms properly in the diagnosis of the inflammatory disease is apparent. Clinical management for diseases of the small intestine (for example, Crohn's disease or Behçet disease) are examined. |