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Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Data on the use of wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in younger children remain limited. However, this single centre study suggests that it is a relatively complication-free procedure that may be considered in younger children below 4 years of age, when small bowel pathology is suspected. We retrospectively reviewed the King's College Hospital WCE database between August 2009 and August 2011. Patients aged 4 years or younger were included in the study. Six children fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The indications for WCE were unexplained gastrointestinal tract (GIT) bleeding (n=4), chronic diarrhoea with (n=1) and without (n=1) GIT bleeding (n=1). All had an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and an ileocolonoscopy before WCE. The mean age at the time of WCE was 2 years 6 months (range 1 year 7 months to 3 years 7 months). The mean weight at WCE was 13.3 kg (range 9–17 kg). Four children had a complete study.
Introduction
Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) was first described in 1981 in an attempt to obtain images of the small bowel, in a minimally invasive manner. The first prototype was produced by Given Imaging (Yokneam, Israel) in the mid-1990s. In August 2001, the US Food and Drug Administration approved WCE for use as a method for investigating small bowel disease, and by January 2004 WCE was approved for use in the paediatric population above the age of 10 years. However, at present, there are no agreed guidelines for the use of WCE in the paediatric population in the UK. To date, only a handful of studies has examined the complications of WCE in young children. The aims of this study were to assess and identify the potential complications of WCE in young children.
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