Enteroscopy

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Small intestine biopsy

Small bowel biopsy; Push enteroscopy; Double-balloon enteroscopy; Capsule enteroscopy; Sonde enteroscopy

Complications are rare but may include:

• Excessive bleeding from the biopsy site
• Hole in the bowel (bowel perforation)
• Infection of the biopsy site leading to bacteremia
• Vomiting, followed by aspiration into the lungs

Factors that prohibit use of this test may include:

• Uncooperative or confused patients
• Untreated blood clotting (coagulation) disorders
• Use of aspirin or other medicines that prevent the blood from clotting normally (anticoagulants)

The greatest risk is bleeding. Signs include:

• Abdominal pain
• Blood in the stools
• Vomiting blood

Review Date: 01/20/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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