Indications for Small-bowel Capsule Endoscopy in Patients with Chronic Abdominal Pain.

Objective The aim of the present study is to assess the difference in the detection rates of small-bowel lesions in chronic abdominal pain (CAP) patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and non-IBS. Patients Ninety-nine CAP patients who were scheduled to undergo capsule endoscopy (CE) to investigate their abdominal symptoms were included in this study. Among the subjects, 34 patients fulfilled the Rome III criteria for IBS (IBS group); the remaining 65 patients were categorized as the non-IBS group. CE was performed in both groups and the total enteroscopy achievement rate, small-bowel lesion detection rate, and the presence of small-bowel lesions were evaluated. We also evaluated the patients' blood test results and the rate at which abdominal symptoms improved following internal medication. Results Total enteroscopy was achieved in 62% (21/34) and 86% (56/65) of the IBS and non-IBS patients, respectively. The total enteroscopy achievement rate was significantly higher in non-IBS patients. The small-bowel lesion detection rates were 3% (1/34) and 19% (12/65), respectively, and the detection rate was significantly higher in the non-IBS patients. In the non-IBS patients, mean C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher in the patients with small-bowel lesions. The abdominal symptoms of 12 (92%) of the CAP patients with small-bowel lesions were improved by internal medication. Conclusion CE may be considered for non-IBS CAP patients with high levels of CRP.

Clinical usefulness of transabdominal ultrasonography prior to patency capsule for suspected small-bowel strictures.

OBJECTIVE: Patency capsule (PC) examination has made it possible to perform capsule endoscopy (CE) in patients with a suspected small-bowel stricture. However, PC has some drawbacks, so we assessed the usefulness of transabdominal ultrasonography (TUS) prior to PC in patients with suspected small-bowel strictures to avoid unnecessary PC examination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients who underwent TUS prior to PC were enrolled in this study. TUS findings were classified as follows: intestinal narrowing and distension at the oral side (Type A); extensive bowel wall thickening (Type B); focal bowel wall thickening (Type C) or no abnormality detected (Type D). We evaluated the TUS and PC findings for the detection of small-bowel strictures. RESULTS: Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) revealed small-bowel strictures in 13 of 50 patients (26%). TUS yielded Type B or C findings in 12 of 13 patients (92%), while PC revealed strictures in all 13 patients. In Crohn's disease (CD) patients with Type B TUS findings, 8 of 9 (89%) had small-bowel strictures on DBE. However, only two of six non-CD patients (33%) with Type B TUS findings had small-bowel strictures. The incidence of Type B strictures was significantly higher in CD patients. CONCLUSIONS: CD patients with Type B TUS findings should not undergo PC or CE because of the high rate of small-bowel strictures. Non-CD patients diagnosed with Type B TUS strictures, as well as patients diagnosed with Type C or D strictures should undergo CE after confirming small-bowel patency using PC.