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Effect of Water Exchange Method on Single-balloon Enteroscopy

Effect of Water Exchange Method on Intubation Depth and Diagnostic Yield in Patients Undergoing Single-balloon Enteroscopy: a Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Patient-blind Trial.

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01942863
Enrollment
110
Registered
2013-09-16
Start date
2013-12-31
Completion date
2015-08-31
Last updated
2016-03-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Single Balloon Enteroscopy

Brief summary

Enteroscopy, including double balloon enteroscopy (DBE), single balloon enteroscopy (SBE) and spiral enteroscopy (SE) currently, have shown good performances in small bowel diagnostics and seem to be useful in the clinical routine. However, enteroscopy is a time-consuming procedure. During common practice, large volumes of air need to be insufflated for good visualization. It leads to significant distention of the small bowel during the examination, which makes further intubation more technically challenging because of the formation of distended bowel loops and acute angulations and limits the maximal intubation length. According to the published data, the oral insertion depth of different kinds of enteroscopy is limited to approximately 240 cm. The total examination rate range form 18% to 86% for DBE and 0% to 11% for SBE. It is thought that the intubation depth in small bowel determines the diagnostic yield and the following treatment. The deeper the enteroscopy is advanced into the small bowel, the more lesions may be found and treated. In order to improve the intubation depth of balloon enteroscopy, several methods, such as carbon dioxide insufflation and decompression side tube-equipped device, have been tried and showed positive effects. CO2 insufflation could also reduce severe pain during DBE and residual gas retention after the procedure because of rapid absorption. However, it is not known how much CO2 insufflation can decrease the distention of small bowel and the formation of bowel loops. Recently, the use of water infusion in lieu of air insufflation has been shown to facilitate completion of colonoscopy, even in potentially difficult patients with prior abdominal or pelvic surgery. Water exchange method obviates excessive lengthening of the colon and the formation of acute angulation, which may cause less pain and easier intubation during scope insertion. Recently, water exchange method was also tried in two patients undergoing SBE via antegrade route in our center. Distal ileum 8cm near to ICV and the cecum was reached respectively (unpublished data), indicating water exchange be a useful method for deep intubation of SBE. Here a prospective, randomized, controlled trial was designed to investigate whether, compared with CO2 insufflation method, water exchange method could increase the intubation depth and diagnostic yield in patients undergoing SBE.

Interventions

PROCEDUREwater exchange single balloon enteroscopy

Oral enteroscopy was performed first, followed by the anal route on the same day or later. For oral route, SBE was first advanced beyond Treitz ligation with CO2 insufflation. Then the water exchange method was used for further insertion. Briefly, residual air in the lumen was suctioned, and 37°C water was infused with a peristaltic pump through the biopsy channel to obtain lumen visualization. Turbid luminal water due to residual feces was suctioned and replaced by clean water until the small bowel lumen was clearly visualized again. Thus, infused water was removed predominantly during the insertion phase. The total volume of water was not restricted. For anal route, water exchange or CO2 insufflation method was used from the beginning of insertion respectively.

PROCEDURECO2 insufflation single balloon enteroscopy

Conventional enteroscopy was performed as CO2 insufflated during insertion. Oral enteroscopy was performed first, followed by the anal route on the same day or later.

OTHERProcedural Requirements

SBE was advanced as deeply as possible and complete small bowel visualization was attempted. When the following conditions were met, tattooing at the deepest position with India ink was performed and the endoscope was withdrawn: no further endoscopic advancement could be achieved, detection of a significant lesion and no other lesions suspected, severe stricture, obvious sedation and SBE-related adverse events happened which required termination of further intubation.

Sponsors

Air Force Military Medical University, China
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Suspected small-bowel disease

Exclusion criteria

* Prior small-bowel surgery * Total examination of small bowel not planned when image modalities showed * lesions obviously located on duodenum, proximal jejunum or distal ileum * High-risk esophageal varices * Pregnancy or lactation * Inability to tolerate sedation or general anesthesia because of comorbidities * Inability to provide informed consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Complete enteroscopy ratesup to one yearDefinition of total visualization of small bowel: cecum was reached via antegrade route or antrum was reached via retrograde route; submucosal india ink was observed form 2rd SBE.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Oral insertion depthup to one yearDepth of maximal insertion is measured as follow: 1. Counting folds on withdrawal---fold-counting method; 2. shorten scope on Treitz ligation and deepest site.
Diagnostic yieldup to one yearInflammatory changes Ulcer Angiodysplasia Tumor Diverticulum Others
Procedural timeup to one year1. Antegrade insertion time: From mouth to Treitz ligation From Treitz ligation to deepest point 2. Retrograde insertion time: From anus to cecum From cecum to marked or deepest site
Adverse eventsup to one yearPancreatitis Perforation Bleeding Aspiration pneumonia Post-procedural pain score accessed by 100-mm VAS (1h, 3h, 6h, 24h) Others

Countries

China

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026