Akerman PA, Agrawal D, Cantero D et al.
Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Endoscopy 2008;40:974–8.
Editor’s note: Spiral enteroscopy is a relatively new technique for advancing an endoscope into the distal small intestine beyond the ligament of Treitz, and is an alternative to push enteroscopy and double- or single-balloon enteroscopy. The principle of the technique is the introduction of a special overtube (Discovery Small Bowel [DSB]; Spirus Medical Inc., Stoughton, MA, USA) with a helical spiral protrusion, allowing advancement by clockwise rotation. An enteroscope is inserted within the DSB, and can be locked in position or loosened and advanced. The present report describes the use of a new design of spiral DSB, which is thinner and more flexible than preceding models, and which was designed for use with two new enteroscopes measuring
<10 mm in diameter – the Fujinon EN-450T5 (Fujinon Inc., Saitama, Japan) and the Olympus SIF-Q180 (Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan).