Paediatric upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy in developing countries

Summary

A retrospective study of 200 endoscopies performed on 168 children (90 girls and 78 boys) aged 3 months to 18 years (median 6 years) is reported. All procedures were completed successfully in an adult endoscopy unit in a comprehensive health centre. Most children of less than 6 months and above 12 years of age needed no intravenous sedation. One child developed respiratory depression and was successfully resuscitated. Indications for endoscopy were: small intestinal biopsy, 78 (46%); recurrent abdominal pain, 40 (24%); acute epigastric pain, 13 (8%); persistent vomiting, 12 (7%); haemorrhage, 10 (6%); caustic substance ingestion, six (4%); and dysphagia, four (2%) children. Positive diagnoses were obtained in 123 (62%) procedures. Coeliac disease (26 cases) was the most common histological diagnosis, followed by gastritis (19 cases), oesophagitis (18 cases), duodenitis (16 cases), duodenal ulcer (11 cases), hiatus hernia (six cases), gastric ulcer (three cases) and oesophageal stricture (two cases). Where specialized paediatric endoscopy units are not feasible, e.g. in developing countries, endoscopic services for children can be safely provided by paediatric endoscopists as part of an adult endoscopy service, provided that suitable resuscitation equipment is available and the necessary modifications to meet the medical and psychological needs of children and their parents are taken into consideration.