Objective    To evaluate the significance of double balloon endoscopy in the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.     Methods    From October 2006 to September 2007

76 patients (46 males and 30 females with 49.4 years of mean age

range 16-78 years) with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding underwent double balloon endoscopy (32 via mouth

24 via anus

20 via both).     Results    The bleeding source was identified in 63 of 76 patients

with a total diagnosis rate of 82.9%. Small intestine ulcer was in 17 cases

nonspecific inflammation in 9 cases

ancylostomiasis in 7

polyps in 6

vascular deformity in 6

diverticulosis in 4 (Michael diverticulosis in 3)

Crohn’s disease in 4

mesenchymoma in 4

highly differentiated adenocarcinoma in 3

duodenal ulcer in 2

ascariasis in 1

and essentially normal in 13. No serious complications

such as hemorrhage and intestinal perforation

occurred in the operation procedure.     Conclusion    Double balloon endoscopy is an effective and safe method for diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.