Small Bowel Enteroscopy

Small bowel enteroscopy is a specialized procedure used to examine the entire length of the small intestine. It extends beyond standard endoscopy techniques, enabling doctors to diagnose conditions that other methods may miss, such as hidden bleeding, small bowel tumors or inflammation.

Why You Might Need This Procedure

Your doctor may recommend a small bowel enteroscopy if you experience unexplained digestive symptoms, such as chronic abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, or internal bleeding, or if you need evaluation for conditions like Crohn's disease, tumors or celiac disease.

Small Bowel Enteroscopy Procedure Overview

• Sedation: You will receive sedation to help you relax and make the procedure more comfortable. A bite block may be placed to protect your teeth, and you will be asked to remove your dentures.
• Positioning: You will lie on your left side on the examination table.

• Procedure:
  • The doctor will numb your throat and insert a mouthguard.
  • An enteroscope, longer than a typical endoscope, is carefully guided through your mouth, down the esophagus, and into the stomach and small intestine.
  • Air or carbon dioxide is gently introduced through the enteroscope to inflate the small intestine slightly, improving visibility.
  • The doctor will examine the small intestine via video transmitted to a monitor, performing any necessary treatments or biopsies.

After the Procedure

• Recovery: You will stay in the recovery area until the sedation wears off. It's important that you have someone to drive you home as the sedative can impair your alertness and reflexes for the remainder of the day.
  
• Diet and Activity: Follow your doctor's advice on resuming diet and activity. You may be advised to start with clear liquids and gradually reintroduce solid foods. Most patients are able to return to normal activities the next day.
• Symptom Monitoring: You might experience a sore throat if the scope was inserted orally, or feel bloated due to the air introduced into your intestine. These symptoms generally subside within a day.
  

When to Call Your Doctor

Contact your healthcare provider if you experience severe symptoms such as:

• Severe abdominal pain or bloating
• Fever
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Difficulty swallowing
• Bleeding, including black or tarry stools
• Signs of infection at any incision site (if applicable)
  

General Preparation Instructions for Gastrointestinal Procedures

Each gastrointestinal procedure requires specific preparations to ensure your safety and the success of the treatment. Here are some general guidelines:

• Fasting: Avoid food and drinks, including water, for several hours, or more as instructed by your healthcare provider.
• Medications: You may need to adjust or pause certain medications. Follow the specific directions given by your doctor.
• Bowel Prep: Some procedures require clearing the intestines using either a liquid solution or pills containing laxatives. Procedures like colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and PillCam capsule endoscopy typically require this type of preparation.
  

Please consult your doctor for detailed preparation instructions tailored to your health needs and the specific procedure.

Schedule an Appointment

Scheduling your appointment is through your gastroenterologist or by physician referral to one of our gastroenterologists.

Please contact your Gastroenterologist's office to schedule an exam/appointment. Contact us at 909.865.9141 for inquiries or questions.

If you do not have a primary care physician, please visit our website, mypvhc.com, to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician.