Gastrointestinal endoscopic practice in infants: Indications and outcome

BackgroundGastrointestinal (GIT) endoscopic procedures are now common in most major pediatric centers and they can be safely performed in small infants.Aim of the workThe present study aims to evaluate the diagnostic role and outcome of endoscopy in infants (>one month of age and ⩽one year old) with different GIT disorders attending Assiut University Children's Hospital, Egypt.Patients and methodsThis is a retrospective descriptive hospital based study, conducted from January 2004 to December 2013. All infants (>one month of age and ⩽one year old) who underwent GIT endoscopy during the study period were included in this study. The following data were collected from the hospital database: basic demographic data, preliminary diagnosis, indication for endoscopy, sedation or anesthesia, type of endoscopy used, endoscopic finding, complications and final diagnosis.ResultsThe present study included 177 infants (103 male and 74 female), 40.1% of them were within the first 6 months of age. Bleeding was the most common indication for endoscopic examination. Mucosal inflammations were the most common findings in infants presented with different gastrointestinal symptoms. Erythematus patches were the most common endoscopic findings in cases of inflammation. Mixed gastrointestinal lesions detected in 22 (12.4%) of infants were included in this study. No complications occurred either from the procedure itself or sedation given.ConclusionsPediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy is a valuable and informative diagnostic procedure in infants. Negative endoscopic findings have their role in either reassurance, assistance of diagnosing a functional etiology or may point to the need of further other investigations.