Contributions and outcomes of terminal ileum intubation in a surgical endoscopy unit: Retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION: The necessity of routine terminal ileum intubation during colonoscopy is controversial, with literature suggesting it has a low impact on clinical outcomes. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of terminal ileum intubation on the clinical approach in a surgical endoscopy unit.
METHODS: This retrospective study included 137 patients over the age of 18 who underwent colonoscopy with successful terminal ileum intubation in 2023. The patients were evaluated based on their demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and pathological data.
RESULTS: The median age was 55 years (range 18–86), and 77 (56.2%) of the 137 patients included in the study were female. A total of 5 (3.5%) patients had a pathological appearance in the terminal ileum mucosa, necessitating an ileal biopsy. Of these 5 patients, 3 (2.2%) were referred for colonoscopy due to diarrhea, 1 (0.7%) due to abdominal pain, and 1 (0.7%) due to radiological findings. All biopsies resulted in a diagnosis of non-specific ileitis.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In surgical endoscopy units, terminal ileum intubation has minimal impact on the clinical approach and can be applied selectively based on the indication.