Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: single centre experience of capsule endoscopy
Internal and Emergency Medicine, 10/11/2011
Calabrese C et al. – Capsule endoscopy(CE) was proven to be a safe, comfortable, and effective, with a high rate of accuracy for diagnosing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB).
Methods- Diagnostic yield of CE in identifying the source of bleeding in patients with OGIB was evaluated.
- Patients who underwent CE at institution from May 2006 to May 2011 were identified.
- Patients’ medical records were reviewed to determine the type of OGIB (occult, overt), CE results and complications, and timing of CE with respect to onset of bleeding.
- Out of 346 patients investigated for OGIB, 246 (71.1%) had some lesion detected by CE.
- In 206 patients (59.5%), definite lesions were detected that could unequivocally explain the OGIB.
- Small bowel angiodysplasia, ulcer/erosions secondary to Crohn’s disease, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent use, and neoplasms were the commonest lesions detected.
- Visualization of the entire small bowel was achieved in 311 (89.9%) of cases.
