RESUMEN
Background: Enteroscopy-based biopsy pathology has high diagnostic value for suspected small bowel diseases. Retrograde single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) is difficult to operate due to the influence of colonic segment. Transparent cap has been widely used in the diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedure, which is conducive for inserting the enteroscope and stabilizing the intestinal cavity. Aims: To explore the role of transparent cap in retrograde SBE. Methods: A total of 64 cases of patients who were hospitalized for retrograde SBE in Suzhou Wuzhong People's Hospital were recruited and allocated into 2 groups according to the random number table method, with 32 cases in each group. Patients in experimental group received cap-assisted SBE and those in control group received routine SBE. All procedures were performed by an experienced senior endoscopist. Outcomes measured included time to reach the ileocecus, terminal ileum intubation rate, depth of insertion, diagnostic yield, and the related complications. Results: The mean time to reach the ileocecus was shorter in experimental group than in control group [(11.8±2.0) min vs. (13.6±2.8) min, P0.05). No severe complications were observed in all the cases. Conclusions: Cap-assisted retrograde SBE is an efficient method for optimizing the intubation rate, insertion depth and procedure time, and is suitable for promotion in clinical practice.