ABSTRACT
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of calculating the insertion length of the overtube for estimating the insertion depth of the scope at double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE).Methods Patients with intestinal lesions found at DBE and confirmed by surgery were included. The advancing distance of the enteroscope at DBE was estimated by either cumulative length of push/pull cycle or calculation of the overall insertion length of the overtube. The accuracy of these two methods was evaluated with reference to surgery. Results Data from 51 patients who had their lesions found at DBE and treated by surgery were included in the study. DBE included 41 antegrade and 10 retrograde procedures. The average difference in the evaluation of the length of enteroscopic insertion between the two methods was 17 cm ( range 0-60 cm) on antegrade DBE and 12 cm (range 0-30 cm) on retrograde DBE. Furthermore, regardless of insertion route of DBE procedure, the mean differences between the insertion length evaluated by the two methods and surgical findings were 19 cm (range 0-50 cm) and 17 cm (range 0-60 cm), respectively, which was not significantly different ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). Conclusion The new method of calculating the length of the overtube passage is the same accurate and much simpler than the traditional method in estimating the insertion depth of the enteroscope at DBE, which is appliable in clinical practice.