Inside Pediatrics Fall/Winter 2023-2024

the recovery room after the 10-minute procedure—all of which puts a tremendous burden on the family and increases costs and the risk of potentially serious side effects. With the new device, transnasal endoscopies take about 15 minutes, and Montoya Melo expects the endoscopy team to be able to complete them even faster as they gain more experience. Patients also are able to leave right after the procedure. “We don’t have to monitor anything,” she said. “We’re getting the same results but in a safer, more convenient way for families and patients.” An added bonus, Montoya Melo says, is that the endoscope is disposable. “Families like to know that it hasn’t been used on anybody before.” This also expedites the procedure because doctors don’t have to process or reprocess the equipment. “We just take it out of the box and use it,” she said. The device is approved for children 5 and older, although most centers limit its use to those 10 and older, she says.

Diana Montoya Melo, M.D.

TNE isn’t for everyone. “There are some children who are more anxious, or they will not tolerate the endoscope going through the nose,” Montoya Melo said. “This is mostly for patients and families who are interested in a different approach.” One way to know if a child is a good candidate? “We ask how they tolerated their COVID test,” she said. “And we tell them it won’t feel any worse than that.”

“The ability to perform unsedated transnasal endoscopy in our patients with EoE is transformational. Among my favorite benefits is the parents’ ability to be in the room during the procedure to see what I am seeing in real time and support their child. Sharing this journey toward healing is one of the greatest joys in medicine.” —Nick CaJacob, M.D.

Nick CaJacob, M.D.

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