BACKGROUND: Small-bowel biopsy is a well-established technique in the evaluation of children with intestinal malabsorption, e.g. coeliac disease. The biopsy is performed endoscopically or with a peroral capsule instrument. The aim of the present retrospective study was to compare the single-port Watson capsule with the double-port Storz capsule with regard to procedure and fluoroscopy time, complications and failure rate. METHODS: All 1,078 peroral small-bowel biopsies performed at our department during 1989-99 were studied. In 387 of these, the Watson capsule was used and in the remaining 691 the Storz capsule. Median age of the children was 2.5 years. About one-third of the children were premedicated with the prokinetic drug cisapride and as sedatives alimemazine or diazepam orally. Two-thirds of the children were given metoclopramide along with midazolam intravenously. The biopsies were performed under intermittent fluoroscopy. RESULTS: The median biopsy procedure time was significantly shorter with the Storz capsule (7 min) compared to the Watson capsule (10 min) (P < 0.05). The median fluoroscopy time was 5 sec with the Storz capsule and 8 sec with the Watson capsule (P < 0.01). The failure rate did not differ significantly between the two capsule types: 10.3% (Watson) and 7.7% (Storz). One potential but no serious complication occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Providing that effective sedation is available, small-bowel biopsy with a peroral capsule, and the Storz double-port multibiopsy capsule in particular, is a safe and fast method exposing the child to a minimal radiation dose.
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M. Nordwall L. Högberg (2001) studied this question.