INTESTINE Vol.13 No.5(7)

Theme The newest approach to the small intestinal diseases
Title Blind loop syndrome
Publish Date 2009/09
Author Makoto Naganuma Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University / Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Author Hitoshi Ichikawa Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University
Author Kazuhiro Kashiwagi Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University
Author Hiroyuki Imaeda Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University
Author Toshifumi Hibi Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University
[ Summary ] In intact intestines, bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine is prevented by the actions of gastric acid, pancreatic enzyme activity and the ileocecal valve. These mechanisms are compromised in patients with intestinal failure. These symptoms are caused by intestinal circulating loops in patients having had gastrectomy. The main symptoms of this syndrome are diarrhea, anemia and absorption dysfunction at the jejunum. Detection of small intestine bacterial overgrowth is critical or diagnose of these symptoms. Recently, double balloon endoscopy has been developed and may be useful to observe the intestinal mucosa at the cirulating loop and to aspirate intestinal juices for isolation and identifi cation of particular of species of bacteria. In this article, possibilities for the usefulness of double balloon endscopy in the diagnosis of blind loop syndrome are presented.
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