A recent study (HK Singh, LC Ee. JPGN 2019; 68: 214-7) reviewed a single center’s colonoscopy data (n=652) from 2011-15 with a focus on patients who underwent this procedure for abdominal pain.

Key findings:

• Only 15 patients had isolated abdominal pain as an indication. In total 68 patients had abdominal pain as an indication but the majority had other ‘red flags’ such as rectal bleeding, family history of IBD or polyposis, weight loss, anemia, food allergy, or altered bowel habits
• None of these 15 patients with isolated abdominal pain had organic disease
• Among 36 patients with a measured fecal calprotectin and abdominal pain, all with elevated levels had positive histologic findings.
• The ileal intubation rate/biopsy rate was 92.4%

I was particularly interested in this study because our group has reviewed our clinical experience in a large cohort undergoing outpatient colonoscopy (findings will be presented this fall).  Our group has a similar ileal intubation rate and a low rate of organic disease in those with isolated abdominal pain.

My take: More efforts are needed to carefully select pediatric patients undergoing endoscopy to minimize low value procedures.

Related blog posts:

• Improving the Value of Pediatric Colonoscopy
• Adverse Events Following Pediatric Endoscopy –Underestimated Previously
• Disaccharidase Deficiencies in Recurrent Abdominal Pain …
• Does negative testing reassure patients? | gutsandgrowth

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