Changes in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Review of a Recent Hospital Experience

Purpose: This study was performed to review the recent experiences of pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy done in one university hospital. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was conducted of 1,040 pediatric cases who underwent GI endoscopy at the Pusan National University Hospital between January 2001 to June 2005. Results: A total of 1,040 endoscopies (upper 840 and lower 200) were performed. The male/female ratio was 1.25: 1. Neonates and infants accounted for 6.0% and 16.5% respectively. Half of the children were below 5 years (mean age 8.5 +/- 2.1 years). Upper and lower GI diagnostic endoscopies were performed in 634 and 163 children respectively. Abdominal pain (38.8%), vomiting (19.4%), foreign body (17.7%), and hematemesis (10.3%) were the main reasons for esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Hematochezia (56.0%), abdominal pain (27.5%) and diarrhea (3.0%) were the main reasons for colonoscopy. Upper GI therapeutic procedures included retrieval of foreign bodies, balloon dilatations of esophageal stricture, PEG, and variceal ligation in 148, 27, 15, and 3 children, respectively. Therapeutic lower GI endoscopies were performed in 37 children (polypectomy in 92%, argon lazer cauterization for angiodysplasia in 4%). Conclusion: GI endoscopy played an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of GI diseases in children. Procedures in younger aged children, cases evaluated by colonoscopy and therapeutic endoscopies are increasing in pediatric practice.