We are cognizant of the report of Schubert and Partin calling attention to the risks involved in performing small intestinal biopsies and were indeed surprised to read of the high incidence of perforations. Obviously our techniques differ.
We have had no perforations in our series, which covers 195 biopsies performed with the Crosby capsule (3 mm port) and over 350 biopsies using the Rubin tube. We do not fix an age or weight below which we dare not operate. Approximately 50% of our patients were under 2 years of age and weighed less than 25 lb.