Double-balloon endoscopy in clinical practice: where are we now?

Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) was developed in 2000 for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel diseases. Although use rates still differ between Eastern and Western countries, DBE quickly reached a broad global diffusion. Together with capsule endoscopy (CE), DBE represented 'a revolution' for the management of small bowel diseases because of its therapeutic capabilities. At present, the main indications for DBE in clinical practice are obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, Crohn's disease and familial polyposis. In the setting of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, DBE seems to have similar diagnostic performances as capsule endoscopy, but it allows for a more definitive diagnosis and the treatment of identified lesions. The main contribution of DBE in the management of Crohn's disease patients is its therapeutic capabilities. Indeed, several recently published studies have suggested that endoscopic dilation of small bowel strictures can delay or, in the near future, could even replace surgical interventions. Also, for patients with familial polyposis syndromes, DBE can represent a viable alternative to small bowel surgery. The complication rate of DBE appears to be low; major complications, such as pancreatitis, bleeding and perforation, have been reported in approximately 1% of all diagnostic DBE whereas the complication rate for therapeutic procedures is about 5%.