Pediatric colonoscopy: King Khalid University Hospital Experience

Abstract

Pediatric colonoscopy is now an established procedure to evaluate colonic disease. As there is no reports about pediatric colonoscopy in our community a retrospective study was carried in KKUH to analyze the pediatric colonoscopies. This is a retrospective study over 15 years period in KKUH to analyze the pediatric colonoscopy. Sixty-six colonoscopies were done in sixty-two patients. The age ranged from 6 month to 16 years; with 35 males and 27 females. Forty-seven of the patients were Saudi. Indication for colonoscopy were bleeding per rectum thirty-two, diarrhea ten, abdominal pain seven, ulcerative colitis in four, suspected polyps in five and other indication in seven patients. In 33 patients colonoscopy was done without premedication, 11 patient had sedation while 22 had general anesthesia. Colonoscopy revealed abnormal finding in 64%, normal findings 28.7% and due to poor preparation no endoscopic report in 7.3%. The commonest abnormal finding were ulcerative colitis in 19 patients and polyps in 17 patients. Pediatric colonoscopy is a safe, practical rewarding procedure especially in certain categories of patients mainly those suspected to have ulcerative colitis, rectal bleeding or diarrhea. A high index of suspicion of ulcerative colitis will lead to better management of patients.