Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Current role of colonoscopy in infants and young children: a multicenter study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 24 Apr 2019  
 
Reviewer: Looi Cheng Ee  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This study aims to examine the outcome of lower GI endoscopy in infants and young children, 
which has not previously been reported separately from older children.  
 
However, there is no differentiation between total colonoscopy vs. flexible sigmoidoscopy as  this 
difference will likely impact age of patients, indications, and pathology found.  
 
Important to include caecal and possibly ileal intubation rate when discussing colonoscopy.   
 
Would like some comment as to how/why 6 years was the age cut off in their  cohort. There was 
further subgroup analysis on those aged <2years; some comment on this age cut off would be 
helpful.  
 
The proportion of patients aged <6years is much higher in this study ((32% vs usually 6 -15%) 
than many other previously published reports  on paediatric colonoscopy, so some comment as to 
why this is so is warranted.  
 
Definition of EGID was mentioned in Discussion when should be in Methods.  
 
"Anonymization" is not a real word.  
 
In Results, "Other colonoscopies......were conducted for decompression.....". Wasn't it only 1 
procedure? if so, should be singular.  
 
What is MPS in Table 3?  
"monogenic disease" is mentioned several times in manuscript. However some of the diseases 
mentione d involve more than one gene or are not clearly a result of single gene defect. Would be 
better to use terms such as genetic syndromes, chromosomal disorders, underlying immune 
deficiencies/dysregulation etc.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify whic h controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to as sess 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you r ecommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indi cate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds 
or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors ' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Current role of colonoscopy in infants and young children: a multicenter study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 24 Apr 2019  
 
Reviewer: Looi Cheng Ee  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This study aims to examine the outcome of lower GI endoscopy in infants and young children, 
which has not previously been reported separately from older children.  
 
However, there is no differentiation between total colonoscopy vs. flexible sigmoidoscopy as  this 
difference will likely impact age of patients, indications, and pathology found.  
 
Important to include caecal and possibly ileal intubation rate when discussing colonoscopy.   
 
Would like some comment as to how/why 6 years was the age cut off in their  cohort. There was 
further subgroup analysis on those aged <2years; some comment on this age cut off would be 
helpful.  
 
The proportion of patients aged <6years is much higher in this study ((32% vs usually 6 -15%) 
than many other previously published reports  on paediatric colonoscopy, so some comment as to 
why this is so is warranted.  
 
Definition of EGID was mentioned in Discussion when should be in Methods.  
 
"Anonymization" is not a real word.  
 
In Results, "Other colonoscopies......were conducted for decompression.....". Wasn't it only 1 
procedure? if so, should be singular.  
 
What is MPS in Table 3?  
"monogenic disease" is mentioned several times in manuscript. However some of the diseases 
mentione d involve more than one gene or are not clearly a result of single gene defect. Would be 
better to use terms such as genetic syndromes, chromosomal disorders, underlying immune 
deficiencies/dysregulation etc.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify whic h controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to as sess 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you r ecommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indi cate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds 
or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors ' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Current role of colonoscopy in infants and young children: a multicenter study  
 
Version: 0 Date: 24 Apr 2019  
 
Reviewer: Looi Cheng Ee  
 
Reviewer's report:  
This study aims to examine the outcome of lower GI endoscopy in infants and young children, 
which has not previously been reported separately from older children.  
 
However, there is no differentiation between total colonoscopy vs. flexible sigmoidoscopy as  this 
difference will likely impact age of patients, indications, and pathology found.  
 
Important to include caecal and possibly ileal intubation rate when discussing colonoscopy.   
 
Would like some comment as to how/why 6 years was the age cut off in their  cohort. There was 
further subgroup analysis on those aged <2years; some comment on this age cut off would be 
helpful.  
 
The proportion of patients aged <6years is much higher in this study ((32% vs usually 6 -15%) 
than many other previously published reports  on paediatric colonoscopy, so some comment as to 
why this is so is warranted.  
 
Definition of EGID was mentioned in Discussion when should be in Methods.  
 
"Anonymization" is not a real word.  
 
In Results, "Other colonoscopies......were conducted for decompression.....". Wasn't it only 1 
procedure? if so, should be singular.  
 
What is MPS in Table 3?  
"monogenic disease" is mentioned several times in manuscript. However some of the diseases 
mentione d involve more than one gene or are not clearly a result of single gene defect. Would be 
better to use terms such as genetic syndromes, chromosomal disorders, underlying immune 
deficiencies/dysregulation etc.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify whic h controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to as sess 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you r ecommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indi cate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares  in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you recei ved reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that holds 
or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors ' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments 
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal  
assistant