OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of double balloon enteroscope (DBE) on obscure gastrointestinal bleeding(OGIB) and to analyze etiological characteristics among different age groups.

METHODSThe clinical data of patients undergoing DBE due to OGIB in the Department of Gastroenterology in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2007 to January 2012 were retrospectively analyzed and compared among different age groups. Patients were divided into the young group(age≤40, n=86), the middle age group(aged 41-59, n=81), and the elderly group (age≥60, n=49). The detection of bleeding origin by DBE was compared between different age groups.

RESULTSDiagnosis rates in young, middle age, elderly group were 83.7%(72/86), 87.7%(71/81), 81.6%(40/49) without statistical differences(P>0.05). Complication rates in the young, middle age, and elderly group were 1.2%(1/86), 2.5%(2/81), 2.0%(1/49) without statistic difference(P>0.05). The most common cause in young group was diverticulum/replica malformation while the most common location was ileum. The most common cause in both middle age and elderly group was tumor.

CONCLUSIONSDBE is an effective and safe method for diagnosis of OGIB among different age groups. Each age group has its etiological characteristics. Diagnosis and therapeutic strategy based on age-related characteristics is worthy of further investigation.