Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is the first in South Florida to offer a new sedation-free procedure to evaluate the upper digestive tract in children. Transnasal endoscopy can be used as an alternative to traditional upper endoscopy performed through the mouth for patients and their families who prefer to avoid sedation and the associated inconveniences.

“Transnasal endoscopy offers many potential benefits for patients and their families,” said Dr. Laura Irastorza, Co-Director of the Transnasal Endoscopy Program at Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists. “It can be performed in an outpatient office without lengthy advance fasting and eliminates the need for placement of an intravenous line, and the longer recovery time associated with anesthesia. It is particularly of interest to families of children with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), as these youngsters often require a series of endoscopies during care.”

Nicklaus Children’s Division of Gastroenterology uses the EvoEndo® Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopy Scope. The ultrathin equipment is inserted in the nose to enable clinicians to assess the esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine. The procedure can be concluded in the medical office in approximately an hour with minimal advance preparation. Virtual reality distraction is used to promote patient relaxation during the procedure.

EoE is a condition in which the esophagus becomes inflamed due to a buildup of white blood cells associated with food allergies. For many EoE patients, repeat endoscopies are needed to identify food triggers and assess the effectiveness of treatments.

“The need for multiple upper endoscopies can be quite disruptive for families. Each endoscopy procedure can result in a missed day of school and work for the child and accompanying family members. Families often welcome transnasal endoscopy to minimize disruption of their daily lives, and avoid the inconvenience and cost of sedation,” said Dr. Carla Perez, Co-Director of the Transnasal Endoscopy Program at Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists.

For more information about transnasal endoscopy and the care of children with EoE and other gastrointestinal disorders, please visit: www.nicklauschildrens.org/medical-services/gastroenterology
 

About EvoEndo®

The EvoEndo Endoscopy System is the only FDA-cleared product designed specifically for pediatric patients of all ages, enabling both sedation-free transnasal and traditional transoral endoscopy. EvoEndo pairs a single-use, ultra-slim, flexible scope suitable for small or challenging anatomy with a portable controller and a virtual reality-based system for patient distraction.  At EvoEndo, we achieve big things through small scopes.