[Interventional endoscopy in the gastrointestinal tract in children].

Background: Interventional endoscopic procedures involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in children are very common. Over the last several years the number of procedures in this area has steadily increased.

Aim: To study indications and results of GI interventional endoscopies performed in a Pediatric GI unit.

Methods: Retrospective study over a period of 10 years (1999-2008). Data were collected from endoscopic files. All procedures were performed endoscopically under general anesthesia.

Results: 185 interventional endoscopic procedures were done during this period in 96 patients (58 boys) median age: 4.9±4.7 years (1 month-13 years). Indications were as follows: esophageal stenosis (n=46; 47.9%), rectal polyp resection (n=21; 19.8%), esophageal varices ligation (n=19; 19.7%), foreign body extractions (n=8; 8.3%) and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (n=2; 2.1%). One hundred and thirteen esophageal dilations (61.1% of procedures) were performed in 46 patients: caustic stenosis (n=22; 22.9%), peptic stenosis (n=13; 13.5%) and anastomotic stenosis (n=11; 11.4%).

Conclusion: The main indication of interventional GI endoscopy in this series was oesophageal stenosis followed by rectal polyp resection, esophageal varices ligation and foreign body extractions.