Deep enteroscopy.

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding has long been a challenging dilemma for gastroenterologists and primary care providers alike. Although many abnormalities can be localized to the small bowel by traditional endoscopic evaluation, deep enteroscopy is often needed to evaluate persistent bleeding of unknown etiology and other conditions. New technology and developments in endoscopic evaluation now provide the necessary tools to explore the small bowel further. These techniques, along with the ability to perform therapeutic interventions, have significantly advanced the management of patients with occult gastrointestinal bleeding and have led to a decline in intraoperative enteroscopy and exploratory laparotomy.