ADVANCES IN SMALL BOWEL ENDOSCOPY DIAGNOSTICS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Abstract

Compared with the procedure in the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract, enteroscope insertion into the small bowel is technically challenging because of the longer luminal length and loose fixation by the mesentery. Capsule endoscopy, double- and single-balloon enteroscopy, and spiral enteroscopy, which are available since the 2000s have facilitated visualization of the entire small bowel. Motorized spiral enteroscopy (MSE) was introduced in 2016 and is performed at some hospitals in Japan since 2021. The diagnostic and insertion capabilities of MSE are similar to those of balloon-assisted enteroscopy; however, MSE requires a shorter procedural time. MSE and other small bowel endoscopy procedures are expected to further improve clinical practices of small bowel diseases.