Can the Small-Bowel Transit Time Influence the Diagnostic Yields of Capsule Endoscopy?

Abstract

Background: To improve the small-bowel transit of capsule endoscopy recently, various preparations or probiotics are being used, but it is not well known how these methods can influence on diagnostic yields. However, if the small-bowel transit is fast, it is concerned that missing rate is increased. The aim of this study was whether diffenrentiation in the diagnostic yields is shown according to small bowel transit times. Methods: A total of 80 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding in whom the capsule endoscopy produced views of the cecum were assessed after negative upper and lower endoscopy. These findings such as multiple angioectasias, actively bleeding lesions, ulcers, and tumors were classified as positive. Capsule transit times through the small bowel were evaluated by analysis of the videos generated during the capsule's passage. The mean small-bowel transit time for all patient was 289.5 ± 96.2 minutes. The patients were divided into two groups: faster than mean transit time (Group I, n = 38) and slower than mean transit time (Group II, n = 42). Results: The small-bowel transit times were 209.8 ± 62.8 minutes in group I and 361.6 ± 55.3 minutes in group II. Diagnostic yields were 62.5% in both groups, 55.3% in group I, and 69.1% in group II (p = 0.25). Conclusions: The diagnostic yields of capsule endoscopy showed no statistically significant differences in two groups. But, there was a trend that the diagnostic yields of capsule endoscopy was higher for group II than group I.