Endoscopic Investigations in Children under 3 Years of Age at the Clinic of Paediatric Surgery

Overview

Background.
Retrospective study of gastroscopic investigations in children under 3 years of age. 

Methods and Results.
Since 1.1.2002 till 31.10.2004 we performed 119 endoscopic investigations in children of this age. 21 patients were excluded because of missed documentation. The average weight of our children was 11.8 kg. (min. 2.8, max 20 kg). In 55 cases suspicion for the oesophageal or gastric corrosion was the reason of investigations, in 24 cases swallowed alien bodies, in 10 patients we performed dilatation of oesophageal stenosis in repeated sessions in 1–6 moths periods. In 4 children we introduced percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), in 3 children ERCP was performed because of cystic dilatation of the bile duct. In 1 child the supposed hematemesis was the reason of gastroscopy (negative) and in one patient oesophageal varicula were assumed (negative). 

Conclusions. Oesophageal or gastric corrosions were assured in 12 cases (Grade 1.–2.:
20,2 %). 5 alien bodies couldn’t be removed because of peristalsis, 1 object because of its dimensions (25 % failures). Our dilations were performed in oesophageal stenosis with bougies or balloon dilator. 9 children were first operated for oesophageal atresia (Vogt IIIb), 1 child was after an operation for oesophageal corrosion with perforation. 

Key words:
gastroduodenoscopy, alien body swallowing, dilation of oesophageal anastomoses, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, ERCP.