Performing capsule endoscopy.

Abstract

Small bowel bleeding is difficult to locate with current technology and costly to treat because of repeated diagnostic workups and hospitalizations. Some patients will eventually undergo intraoperative enteroscopy, the current gold standard. If the cause of bleeding is found, they may then have a bowel resection to treat their condition. Capsule endoscopy is a new technology that may greatly increase the ability to diagnose patients with recurrent obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and help reduce their treatment time and cost.