OBJECTIVETo study the clinical application and the safety of electronic gastroscopy in infants at ages of 0-3 months.

METHODSAn Olympus electronic gastroscope GIF 260 or GIF 230 was applied in 177 infants at ages of 0-3 months with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. An ECG Monitor II was used for monitoring heart rate, cardiac rhythm and pulse transcutaneous oxygen saturation in 65 infants during the whole process of gastroscopy. Some related treatments were performed under the electronic gastroscope, such as removal of foreign body, topical administration of antihemorrhagic drugs, reduction of volvulus of stomach and bougienage of oesophagus.

RESULTSAll 177 infants were examined successfully and they all well tolerated. Forty-two cases demonstrated positive findings in 68 cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Ninety-two cases demonstrated positive findings in 104 cases of recurrent vomiting. Under the electronic gastroscope, removal of foreign body in the upper gastrointestinal tract was performed in 5 cases; topical administration of antihemorrhagic drugs or electrocoagulation for stopping bleeding in 22 cases; reduction of volvulus of stomach in 3 cases.

CONCLUSIONSAs a safe and visual means for diagnosis of digestive tract diseases, the electronic gastroscopy may be recommended for wide application in infants at ages of 0-3 months.