Small bowel enteroscopy in Crohn's disease

Abstract

Endoscopic assessment of the small bowel is difficult because of its long and tortuous anatomy. However, recent developments have greatly improved the insertion depth and diagnostic yield, by means of device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE). Therefore, DAE may be of specific interest in the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. It may be of help in the diagnostic assessment of intestinal disease extent and severity and complications, with an impact on the therapeutic management. Moreover, local treatment within the small bowel is also feasible with DAE. This review aims to provide an overview of the currently available literature data on the use of enteroscopy in inflammatory bowel disease, and Crohn's disease in particular.

Keywords inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, enteroscopy, device-assisted enteroscopy, review

Ann Gastroenterol 2012; 25 (1): 14-20