Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT01942863

Effect of Water Exchange Method on Single-balloon Enteroscopy

Enteroscopy, including double balloon enteroscopy (DBE), single balloon enteroscopy (SBE) and spiral enteroscopy (SE) currently, have shown good performances in small bowel diagnostics and seem to be useful in the clinical routine. However, enteroscopy is a time-consuming procedure. During common practice, large volumes of air need to be insufflated for good visualization. It leads to significant distention of the small bowel during the examination, which makes further intubation more technically challenging because of the formation of distended bowel loops and acute angulations and limits the maximal intubation length. According to the published data, the oral insertion depth of different kinds of enteroscopy is limited to approximately 240 cm. The total examination rate range form 18% to 86% for DBE and 0% to 11% for SBE.

It is thought that the intubation depth in small bowel determines the diagnostic yield and the following treatment. The deeper the enteroscopy is advanced into the small bowel, the more lesions may be found and treated. In order to improve the intubation depth of balloon enteroscopy, several methods, such as carbon dioxide insufflation and decompression side tube-equipped device, have been tried and showed positive effects. CO2 insufflation could also reduce severe pain during DBE and residual gas retention after the procedure because of rapid absorption. However, it is not known how much CO2 insufflation can decrease the distention of small bowel and the formation of bowel loops.

Recently, the use of water infusion in lieu of air insufflation has been shown to facilitate completion of colonoscopy, even in potentially difficult patients with prior abdominal or pelvic surgery. Water exchange method obviates excessive lengthening of the colon and the formation of acute angulation, which may cause less pain and easier intubation during scope insertion. Recently, water exchange method was also tried in two patients undergoing SBE via antegrade route in our center. Distal ileum 8cm near to ICV and the cecum was reached respectively (unpublished data), indicating water exchange be a useful method for deep intubation of SBE.

Here a prospective, randomized, controlled trial was designed to investigate whether, compared with CO2 insufflation method, water exchange method could increase the intubation depth and diagnostic yield in patients undergoing SBE.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Endoscopy Center of Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Suspected small-bowel disease

Exclusion criteria

  • Prior small-bowel surgery
  • Total examination of small bowel not planned when image modalities showed
  • lesions obviously located on duodenum, proximal jejunum or distal ileum
  • High-risk esophageal varices
  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Inability to tolerate sedation or general anesthesia because of comorbidities
  • Inability to provide informed consent

Treatment and study plan

water exchange single balloon enteroscopy

Procedure

Oral enteroscopy was performed first, followed by the anal route on the same day or later. For oral route, SBE was first advanced beyond Treitz ligation with CO2 insufflation. Then the water exchange method was used for further insertion. Briefly, residual air in the lumen was suctioned, and 37°C water was infused with a peristaltic pump through the biopsy channel to obtain lumen visualization. Turbid luminal water due to residual feces was suctioned and replaced by clean water until the small bowel lumen was clearly visualized again. Thus, infused water was removed predominantly during the insertion phase. The total volume of water was not restricted. For anal route, water exchange or CO2 insufflation method was used from the beginning of insertion respectively.

CO2 insufflation single balloon enteroscopy

Procedure

Conventional enteroscopy was performed as CO2 insufflated during insertion. Oral enteroscopy was performed first, followed by the anal route on the same day or later.

Procedural Requirements

Other

SBE was advanced as deeply as possible and complete small bowel visualization was attempted. When the following conditions were met, tattooing at the deepest position with India ink was performed and the endoscope was withdrawn: no further endoscopic advancement could be achieved, detection of a significant lesion and no other lesions suspected, severe stricture, obvious sedation and SBE-related adverse events happened which required termination of further intubation.

Primary outcomes

  1. Complete enteroscopy rates

    Time frame: up to one year

    Definition of total visualization of small bowel: cecum was reached via antegrade route or antrum was reached via retrograde route; submucosal india ink was observed form 2rd SBE.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Oral insertion depth

    Time frame: up to one year

    Depth of maximal insertion is measured as follow:

    • Counting folds on withdrawal---fold-counting method;
    • shorten scope on Treitz ligation and deepest site.
  2. Diagnostic yield

    Time frame: up to one year

    Inflammatory changes Ulcer Angiodysplasia Tumor Diverticulum Others

  3. Procedural time

    Time frame: up to one year

    • Antegrade insertion time:

    From mouth to Treitz ligation From Treitz ligation to deepest point

    • Retrograde insertion time:

    From anus to cecum From cecum to marked or deepest site

  4. Adverse events

    Time frame: up to one year

    Pancreatitis Perforation Bleeding Aspiration pneumonia Post-procedural pain score accessed by 100-mm VAS (1h, 3h, 6h, 24h) Others

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Air Force Military Medical University, China

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Water Exchange Method on Intubation Depth and Diagnostic Yield in Patients Undergoing Single-balloon Enteroscopy: a Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Patient-blind Trial.

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Sep 16, 2013
Registry last updated
Mar 25, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.