Anyone Familiar W/new Double Balloon Endoscopy??

Move over Givens Capsule Endoscopy (the camera pill)!!! In 2004 the FDA approved the Fujinon Double-Balloon Electronic Enteroscopy System. The Fujinon is similar to the regular colonoscope that all crohnies know and love (!!?!!). Except the Fujinon allows colonoscopists to view the entire length of the small intestine. The Fujinon has a balloon attached to the end of the scope and another balloon attached to a transparent tube that slides over the length of the scope.

As with a regular colonoscopy the patient is given IV sedation, the Fujinon scope can then be passed thru the mouth or the anus. It then slowly piggybacks thru the small intestine using a series of balloon inflations and deflations. Each time the overtube and endoscope are inflated and deflated, they advance further into the small intestine. As a problem area is discovered tiny instruments can be advanced by the scopist thru the scope to take biopsies or treat an area of bleeding. If more extensive treatment is needed, the area can be marked for easy location during surgery.

For further information :

http://www.fujinonendoscopy.com/

:melody: :melody: :melody:

Have any of our gastro nurses had the opportunity to observe or take part in the use of this new type of endoscope??