Background and study aims: Double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) is a new technique for the visualization of the small bowel. Although the technique is widely used, little is known about the complications. A few complications have been reported in the literature, mainly in case reports. The aim of this study was to establish the complication rate of both diagnostic and therapeutic DBE.
Patients and methods: A total of 10 centers (nine academic centers and one teaching hospital) across four continents participated in the study. Complications were defined according to the literature. A therapeutic DBE was defined as a DBE with use of argon plasma coagulation, a polypectomy snare, injection of fluids (other than ink for marking), removal of foreign body, or balloon dilation.
Results: A total 85 adverse events were reported in 2362 DBE procedures. In all, 40 events fulfilled the definition of a complication, 13 in 1728 diagnostic DBE (0.8 %) and 27 during 634 therapeutic procedures (4.3 %). The complications were rated minor in 21 (0.9 %), moderate in 6 (0.3 %) and severe in 13 procedures (0.6 %). No fatal complications were reported. Seven cases of pancreatitis were reported, six after diagnostic (0.3 %) and one after therapeutic (0.2 %) DBE.
Conclusions: Diagnostic DBE is safe with a low complication rate. The complication rate of therapeutic DBE is high compared with therapeutic colonoscopy. The reason for this is unclear. The incidence of pancreatitis after DBE is low (0.3 %), but has to be considered in patients with persistent abdominal complaints after a DBE procedure.