The Children’s gastroenterology team began using Endoflip in the fall of 2024.
Diagnosing esophageal disorders in pediatric patients presents a number of challenges for both providers and patients. The diagnostic tools typically used in the past often caused discomfort for the patient and made diagnosis difficult. Thanks to the addition of a new technology, Children’s of Alabama is able to circumvent these issues to streamline the process for both sides.
In the fall of 2024, Children’s began using an endoluminal functional lumen imaging probe, also known as EndoFlip. It’s a device that evaluates esophageal distensibility under general anesthesia during endoscopy to provide important insights for patients with conditions like dysphagia, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and post-surgical complications. Clinicians have been using this on adult patients since 2009, but it was FDA approved for children 5 and older in the last few years, and at least one study suggests it’s also safe for patients even younger. In pediatric patients, who often struggle with conventional methods, the use of anesthesia significantly reduces stress and discomfort for both children and their families.
“For conditions like EoE, where esophageal inflammation and reduced distensibility are common, this tool bridges the diagnostic gap,” said Diana Montoya Melo, M.D., a pediatric gastroenterologist at Children’s. “We can now identify abnormalities that were previously undetectable, leading to timely and effective interventions.”
EndoFlip is particularly beneficial for patients with swallowing difficulties. By measuring esophageal distensibility, physicians can detect subtle functional issues that may not be evident with endoscopy or other imaging studies. For instance, patients with EoE often present with swallowing challenges despite minimal inflammation.
EndoFlip also helps physicians identify areas of reduced esophageal diameter, guiding therapeutic interventions such as esophageal dilation. This can lead to immediate symptom relief and dramatically improve a patient’s quality of life. “We can identify abnormalities we couldn’t before, like areas of decreased distensibility, and address them with esophageal dilation — fixing symptoms immediately in some cases,” Montoya Melo said.
The technology also helps evaluate post-surgical complications in patients with congenital esophageal anomalies, such as tracheoesophageal fistula. By pinpointing areas of reduced distensibility, EndoFlip helps ensure accurate diagnoses and effective management plans.
For Children’s clinicians, introducing EndoFlip into existing diagnostic workflows has streamlined the patient management process. Combining it with endoscopy has enabled physicians to save time and resources, avoiding the need for multiple procedures. “It only adds about five to seven minutes to the procedure, yet it provides critical information that can prevent unnecessary repeat evaluations,” Montoya Melo said.
Patients also benefit from reduced hospital visits, fewer diagnostic tests, and faster resolutions to their symptoms. Also, EndoFlip’s ability to guide precise interventions eliminates the trial-and-error approach, saving both time and health care resources.
“The biggest advantage for families is being able to get information similar to esophageal manometry while the patients are sedated during endoscopy,” Montoya Melo said. “This avoids the discomfort of a transnasal catheter procedure while awake.”
No Comments