All issues > Volume 29(4); 1986

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1986;29(4):387-393. Published online April 30, 1986.

Upper Gastrointestinal Fiberoptic Endoscopy in Pediatric Patients.

Ki Sup Chung¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

One hundred and sixty seven patients ranging age from 5 months to ],6 years seen at Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University, College of. Medicine, were underwent diagnostic fiberoptic endoscopy and double contrast barium meal examination. Of 167 patients, 138 cases had chronic recurrent abdominal pain with or without associated vomiting and 29 cases had upper gastrointestinal bleeding on admission. The results were as follows：1) Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed safely and effectively for the patients less than 6 years of age with sedation only, and for the patients older than 6 years without sedation. 2) Of 138 patients with chronic recurrent abdominal pain, barium meal studies has 47 percent correlation with endoscopic findings. Peptic ulcers were diagnosed by barium contrast studies in 59% of cases, superficial mucosal lesion in 33%, and normal findings in 62%. 3) Of 29 patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, barium contrast studies has 66 percent correlation with endoscopic findings. Esophageal varices were diagnosed by barium contrast studies in 100% of cases, peptic ulcers in 71%, and superficial mucosal lesion in 50%. 4) Endoscopy of 19 patients reported radiologically to have “deformity or spasm of bulb” revealed ulcers in 11 cases(58%), superficial mucosal lesion in 7 cases(37%), and normal findings in 1 case (5%). 5) Endoscopy of 61 cases reported radiologically to have normal findings revealed peptic ulcers in 10 cases (16%), superficial mucosal lesion in 34 cases (56%), and normal findings in 16 cases (26%). In conclusion, upper gastrointestinal fiberoptic endoscopy in pediatric patients can be performed safely and effectively without general anesthesia, and should be the most reliable diagnostic tool used for the diagnosis of upper gasterointestinal bleeding, superficial mucosal lesion. Endoscopy should be considered for patients with negative or equivocal radiographic studies in whom the symptoms are severe and a functional diagnosis is not thought probable.

Keywords :Abdominal pain; Upper gastrointestinal bleeding; Endoscopy; Upper G-I series.