Utility of video capsule endoscopy in clinical practice, experience at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh

Background: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a valuable diagnostic tool for the evaluation of the small intestine. Evidence shows that it is effective in the diagnosis of occult bleeding and superficial lesions that are not radiographicallyobserved. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of the capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis and management of the common gastrointestinal disorders.Methods: A retrospective chart review of a total of 326 candidates who have met the inclusion criteria and who underwent VCE from the period from January 2006 till December 2018.Results: The main indication for Video Capsule Endoscopy was small bowel overt gastrointestinal bleeding with 106 cases (32.6%) followed by iron deficiency anemia with 104 cases (32%). Capsule retention rate was observed in 11 cases (3.4%) 4 of which were crohn抯 disease patients (22.2%). Overall diagnostic yield was 36%, 64% for overt gastrointestinal bleeding and 41% for occult gastrointestinal bleeding. The most common reported positive finding was Angiodysplasia in 19.9% of cases, followed by ulcers in 13.8% of cases, followed by polyps in 8.3% of cases and erosions in 8% of cases.Conclusions: Video capsule endoscopy proved to be an essential diagnostic tool in gastrointestinal bleeding. Advantages of VCE include; less labor, higher resolution examination of mucosa, relative safety, and noninvasiveness. On the other hand, it does not offer intervention capabilities when compared with enteroscopy and its interpretation was sometimes difficult and time consuming. Risk of capsule retention remains significant especially in patients suffering from crohn抯 disease.

Estudio de intestino delgado: experiencia en el uso de Cápsula Patency en la prevención de retención de Video-cápsula Endoscópica / Small bowel study: experience using Patency Capsule for prevention of video capsule endoscopy retention

Introduction: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a useful test for the evaluation of the small bowel mucosa. The main complication of VCE is retention, so in patients with risk factors it is recommended to evaluate the permeability of the digestive tract with Patency Capsule (PC). We describe patients evaluated with PC before the study with VCE. Methods: Descriptive observational study of 96 patients referred for VCE. A clinical survey and images identified that 7 of these patients (7.3%) had retention risk factors, so they were previously requested PC. Results: 2 of the 7 patients evaluated with PC did not excrete the device, so the use of VCE was contraindicated; the subsequent study concluded Crohn's disease (CD) and jejunal stenosis due to retractable mesenteritis in these cases. Of the remaining 89 patients, not evaluated with PC, 1 (1.1%) developed retention of the VCE at an ulcerated stenosis, and was subsequently diagnosed as CD. Conclusion: In our study, we confirmed the usefulness of PC as a method to assess the risk of retention of VCE in patients with risk factors for ID stenosis.

Introducción: La video-cápsula endoscópica (VCE) es un examen útil para el estudio de patologías del intestino delgado (ID). La principal complicación de la VCE es la retención, por lo que en pacientes con factores de riesgo se recomienda evaluar la permeabilidad del tubo digestivo con Cápsula Patency (CP). Se presenta una serie de casos evaluados con CP previo al estudio con VCE. Métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo de 96 pacientes derivados para realización de VCE. Mediante encuesta clínica e imágenes se identificó que 7 de estos pacientes (7,3%) tenían factores de riesgo de retención, por lo que se les solicitó previamente CP. Resultados: 2 de los 7 pacientes evaluados con CP no expulsaron el dispositivo por lo que se contraindicó el uso de VCE; el estudio posterior concluyó Enfermedad de Crohn (EC) y estenosis yeyunal por mesenteritis retráctil en estos dos casos. De los 89 pacientes restantes, no evaluados con CP, 1 (1,1%) presentó retención de la VCE a nivel de una estenosis ulcerada diagnosticada posteriormente como EC. Conclusión: En nuestra casuística se confirma la utilidad de la CP como un método para evaluar el riesgo de retención de VCE en pacientes con factores de riesgo de estenosis de ID.

Linfangiectasias en yeyuno como causa de sangrado digestivo oscuro manifiesto / Clinical case of lymphangiectasia in jejunum as a cause of manifest obscure gastrointestinal bleeding / Clinical case of lymphangiectasia in jejunum as a cause of manifest obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

El sangrado digestivo oscuro constituye entre 10 y 20% de todas las causas de sangrado digestivo. La etiología está claramente relacionada con el grupo etario en que se presente. Las linfangiectasias del yeyuno son una causa rara de sangrado digestivo, pero puede llegar a ser de alta mortalidad en caso de que no se detecte tempranamente. Reportamos un caso de un paciente joven sin historia previa de enfermedad, con sangrado digestivo manifestado por melenas, con anemización severa, con estudios endoscópicos iniciales normales, en quien hacemos abordaje con estudios para intestino delgado (video cápsula endoscópica y enteroscopia anterógrada de doble balón), con los que hacemos el diagnóstico y es llevado a cirugía, con adecuada evolución clínica y curación de la enfermedad. (Acta Med Colomb 2015; 40: 158-161).

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is between 10 to 20% of all causes of gastrointestinal bleeding. The etiology is clearly related to the age group in which it is presented. Lymphangiectasia in jejunum is a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding, but can have high mortality if not detected early. A case of a young patient with no history of previous disease presenting gastrointestinal bleeding manifested by melaena, with severe anemia and normal initial endoscopic studies, is presented. The diagnosis was made by endoscopic video capsule and antegrade double-balloon enteroscopy and surgery was performed with adequate clinical evolution and cure of the disease. (Acta Med Colomb 2015; 40: 158-161).

Coffee Enema for Preparation for Small Bowel Video Capsule Endoscopy: A Pilot Study

Coffee enemas are believed to cause dilatation of bile ducts and excretion of bile through the colon wall. Proponents of coffee enemas claim that the cafestol palmitate in coffee enhances the activity of glutathione S-transferase, an enzyme that stimulates bile excretion. During video capsule endoscopy (VCE), excreted bile is one of the causes of poor preparation of the small bowel. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effect of coffee enema for preparation of the small bowel during VCE. In this pilot study, 17 of 34 patients were assigned to the coffee enema plus polyethylene glycol (PEG) 2 L ingestion group, whereas the 17 remaining control patients received 2 L of PEG only. The quality of bowel preparation was evaluated in the two patient groups. Bowel preparations in the proximal segments of small bowel were not differ between two groups. In the mid and distal segments of the small intestine, bowel preparations tend to be better in patients who received coffee enemas plus PEG than in patients who received PEG only. The coffee enema group did not experience any complications or side effects. Coffee enemas may be a feasible option, and there were no clinically significant adverse events related to coffee enemas. More prospective randomized studies are warranted to improve small bowel preparation for VCE.

Role of Enhanced Visibility in Evaluating Polyposis Syndromes Using a Newly Developed Contrast Image Capsule Endoscope

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A flexible spectral imaging color enhancement system was installed in new capsule software for video capsule endoscopy. Contrast image capsule endoscopy (CICE) is a novel technology using light-emitting diodes selected for the main absorption range of hemoglobin. We assessed the feasibility and diagnostic effi cacy for small bowel surveillance in patients with polyposis syndromes. METHODS: Six patients with polyposis syndromes, four with familial adenomatous polyposis and one each with Cowden syndrome (CS) and Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) were examined using CICE. We conducted three evaluations to assess the effect on the numbers of the detected polyps; compare polyp diagnostic rates between adenoma and hamartoma; and assess polyp visibility. RESULTS: The numbers of detected polyps and diagnostic accuracy did not differ signifi cantly between pre-contrast and contrast images. However, 50% of the adenomatous polyps displayed enhanced visibility on contrast images. CICE contrast images exhibited clearly demarcated lesions and improved the visibility of minute structures of adenomatous polyps. Hamartomatous polyp micro-structures in patients with CS and CCS were more clearly visualized on contrast than pre-contrast images. CONCLUSIONS: CICE is an effective tool for enhancing the visibility of polyps in patients with polyposis syndrome.

Videocápsula endoscópica, experiencia de diez meses en el servicio de gastroenterología del HNAAA

La videocápsula endoscópica (VCE) permite el estudio del intestino delgado, solucionando el vacio que existía antes de su aparición. Material y Método. Se revisan 33 casos de pacientes a quienes se realizó VCE en el servicio de Gastroenterología del Hospital Nacional Almanzor Aguinaga Asenjo, entre los meses de junio 2010 a marzo 2011. Resultados. Se encontró que la principal indicación para el examen fue la hemorragia digestiva de origen oscuro, la edad media de solicitud del examen fue de 57 años y el 51,5% de los resultados fueron normales, mientras que el porcentaje restante se distribuyó entre lesiones nodulares de intestino delgado, pólipos y tumoraciones, principalmente. Conclusiones. La VCE es un método seguro, con un mínimo de contraindicaciones que se puede realizar de manera ambulatoria y cuyos hallazgos se complementan con el estudio de enteroscopia de doble balòn, que permite la toma de muestras para el estudio anatomopatológico.(AU)

The video capsule endoscopy (VCE) allows the study of the small bowel, solving the emptiness that was before his appearance. We reviewed 33 cases of patients who underwent VCE in the Service of Gastroenterology in Almanzor Aguinaga Asenjo Hospital between the months of June 2010 to March 2011. It was found that the main indication for the examination was obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, the average age of the review application was 57 years and 51,5% of the results were normal while the remaining percentage was distributed in nodular lesions of small bowel, polyps and tumors, mainly. The VCE is a safe procedure with minimal contraindications that can be performed on an outpatient and whose findings are complemented by the study of double-balloon enteroscopy, which allows sampling for histology.(AU)

Experiencia clínica del uso de la videocápsula endoscópica en el diagnóstico de patología del intestino delgado / Clinical experience of using the video capsule endoscopy (VCE) as a diagnostic method in small intestine pathology

La videocápsula endoscópica (VCE), se introdujo en Colombia en junio de 2003 como método diagnóstico de las enfermedades del intestino delgado; realizamos un estudio observacional, retrospectivo, descriptivo, con 100 pacientes referidos para la práctica de VCE. Objetivos. Presentar la experiencia clínica de la utilización de la VCE en nuestra población, determinar las indicaciones más frecuentes para el estudio del intestino delgado con VCE en nuestro país, definir las patologías encontradas en el grupo de pacientes estudiados, describir los hallazgos de videocápsula en relación a los síntomas de los pacientes. Metodología. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables identificadas y estudiadas, se analizó el comportamiento de los datos, se calcularon las medidas de tendencia central y de dispersión de las variables en mención. Resultados. En el 97% de los exámenes la indicación fue el estudio del sangrado digestivo oscuro oculto o manifiesto, la patología diagnosticada con mayor frecuencia fue la patología vascular (angiectasias) del intestino delgado, seguida por las patologías inflamatoria (úlceras), parasitaria y tumoral. Conclusiones. El examen de VCE es de gran ayuda en el estudio del sangrado digestivo oscuro ya sea oculto o manifiesto y debe considerarse en nuestro medio de primera elección luego de la realización de endoscopia digestiva alta con visualización de la segunda porción duodenal (2) y de colonoscopia con ileoscopia (2), si el paciente no presenta síntomas obstructivos.

The VCE was introduced in Colombia in June 2003 as a method to diagnose diseases in the small intestine. We ran comprehensive observations with a series of 100 cases and created a retrospective and descriptive study of patients referred to us for the practice of VCE. Objectives. To present the clinical experience in the use of the VCE in our population. To determine the most frequent findings for the study of the small intestine with VCE in our country. To define the pathologies found in the group of patients studied, describe the video capsule findings in relation to the symptoms. Methodology. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the identified and studied variables, looking at the behaviour of the data the central trend and dispersion of the variables was calculated. Results. In 97% of the cases, the indication was for the study of occult or overt obscure digestive bleeding. The most frequent diagnosed pathology was the vascular pathology (angiectasias) of the small intestine; followed by the inflammatory pathology (ulcers) with tumours and parasite. Conclusion. The video capsule endoscopy exam is of great help in the study of obscure digestive bleeding whether it is occult or overt. It should be considered in our country as the primary choice after the upper digestive endoscopy with visualisation of the second duodenal portion (2) and the colonoscopy with ileoscopy (2) if the patient doesn’t present obstructive symptoms.