Small bowel exploration by wireless capsule endoscopy: results from 314 procedures.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the diagnostic efficiency of capsule endoscopy in a large group of patients with different indications, to weigh the reliability of the procedure for excluding small bowel lesions, and to identify factors associated with the likelihood of obtaining a definitive diagnosis. METHODS: Three hundred four consecutive patients (141 female, mean age 55 years, range 12-91 years) underwent capsule endoscopy in two different Gastroenterology Units, for a total of 314 procedures, and were followed-up for a median period of 15 months. Referrals were obscure occult/overt gastrointestinal bleeding (203 patients), suspected small bowel disease (74), gastrointestinal polyposis (18), suspected/previous intestinal or endocrine malignancies (13), previously diagnosed intestinal lymphangectasia (3), and vascular abnormalities (3). RESULTS: Adequate visualization of the small bowel was obtained in 96% of patients, although the capsule did not visualize cecum in 20% of cases. Non-natural excretion of the capsule was observed in 4 patients, all of whom underwent laparotomy for intestinal stenosis. Diagnostic yields were 58% for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and 31% for patients with suspected small bowel disease. Capsule endoscopy was able to rule out small bowel disease in 14% of patients, and a definitive diagnosis was achieved in 65% of patients. The only parameter associated with the likelihood of reaching a conclusive diagnosis was the indication to the procedure (overall chi-square 13.5, P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Capsule endoscopy represents a reliable tool for verifying the state of the small bowel. Accurate selection of indications and critical evaluation of the results are essential to fully exploit this procedure.

Clinical relevance of small-bowel findings detected by wireless capsule endoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: Capsule endoscopy is becoming known as a valid tool for identifying sources of obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Fewer data are available about its clinical value for other indications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients (31 F, mean age 47 years, range 14-80 years) with no signs of overt GI bleeding were investigated by Given M2A video capsule for suspected small-bowel disease. The main clinical features were: iron deficient anemia (20), abdominal pain (12), chronic diarrhea (9), malabsorption and weight loss (7), Crohn's disease (CD) (5), and familial adenomatous polyposis (3). Three patients underwent wireless endoscopy for suspected GI neoplasm and one for portal thrombosis. RESULTS: Complete vision of the small bowel was achieved in 55 patients. No small-bowel lesions were identified in 17 patients, but 5 of them had gastric abnormalities. Small-bowel abnormality was found in 38 patients. Lesions compatible with CD were found in 14 patients, diffuse or patchy enteropathy in 7 and polyps in 6. Actively bleeding lesions were detected in 6 patients and potential bleeding sources in 5. Capsule endoscopy had an overall diagnostic yield of 62%. In particular, three small-bowel malignancies were detected and 9 patients received a better definition of their already-known pathology. However, further endoscopies were needed in 10 patients to obtain a diagnosis. One patient, diagnosed with ileal CD, underwent surgery, as the capsule remained trapped in a stricture. CONCLUSIONS: Wireless endoscopy effectively visualizes small-bowel abnormalities even though more accurate selection of the patients is needed in order to optimize its diagnostic efficacy.