PEDIATRIC TOTAL COLONOSCOPY

Abstract

From October 1984 to March 1987, we carried out 48 total colonoscopies in 44 infants in whom 12 were under one year. As the results, 10 cases of intussuception, 10 cases of acute hemorrhagic colitis, 1 case of juvenile polyp, 1 case of colonic polyposis and 2 cases of Hirschsprung's disease were revealed. We performed colonoscopic examinations with mild anesthesia non-fluoroscopically. Urgent total colonoscopy was done in 19 patients less than 6 year under the diagnosis of acute abdomen because of bloody stool. The results revealed 10 cases of intussuception and 8 cases of acute hemorrhagic colitis. This indicates that application of total colonoscopy in infants is useful in diagnosing the deseases of the lower digestive tract in emergency cases. We treated intussuception endoscopically by sending air through endoscope and had successful reduction in 8 cases. We have performed pediatric total colonoscopy under mild anesthesia non-fluoroscopically and have had good results. We conveniently call our method 'non-invasive examination of large bowel'. We believe that this is the best method to diagnose infant colorectal diseases.