Investigation of the small bowel in gastrointestinal bleeding - Enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy

Small intestinal bleeding presents a unique clinical problem that differs from upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in many respects. Patients who have small intestinal bleeding undergo more diagnostic procedures, require more blood transfusions, have longer hospitalizations, and have higher health care expenditures than patients who have upper or lower GI bleeding. The difficulty accessing the small bowel endoscopically may contribute to this phenomenon. This article reviews pertinent enteroscopy techniques, with an emphasis on the new technologies of capsule endoscopy and double balloon enteroscopy.