Clinical consequences of videocapsule endoscopy in GI bleeding and Crohn's disease

Capsule Endoscopy for Crohn's Disease: Current Status of Diagnosis and Management

Crohn's disease (CD) is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease involving the small and/or large intestine. More than 50% of Western CD patients and up to 88% of Asian CD patients may have small intestinal involvement. Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has a higher diagnostic yield than small bowel barium radiography and computed tomography enterography for the detection of small intestinal involvement of CD. VCE also provides diagnostic yields comparable to magnetic resonance- (MR-) based enterography or enteroclysis and may have several advantages over MR-based tests for the detection of early small intestinal lesions. Several studies have suggested the use of VCE-based disease activity scoring systems to evaluate small intestinal mucosal disease activity, although their clinical relevance needs to be further studied. A possible indication for VCE is recurrence monitoring after complete surgical excision of CD-involved segments but its usefulness and efficacy compared with conventional endoscopy should be evaluated. The capsule retention rate ranges from 0 to 5.4% in suspected CD patients and from 0 to 13.2% in established CD patients. If VCE is necessary, significant small bowel stricture should be ruled out before VCE by performing a patency capsule study and/or small bowel radiological study in suspected or established CD patients.

The role of endoscopy in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic immune-mediated disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. It is often the result of the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The role of endoscopy in disease surveillance is unprecedented. However, there is considerable debate in therapeutic goals in IBD patients, ranging from the resolution of clinical symptoms to mucosal healing. Furthermore, deep remission has recently been advocated for altering disease course in these patients. Additionally, neoplasia continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in IBD patients. This review discussed the role of several endoscopic techniques in assessing mucosal healing and neoplasia with emphasis on novel non-invasive endoscopic techniques.

Korean Gut Image Study Group, Lim YJ, Joo YS, Jung DY, Ye BD, Kim JH, Cheon JH, Kim SE, Do JH, Jang BI, Moon JS, Kim JO, Chun HJ, Choi MG. Learning curve of capsule endoscopy

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Capsule endoscopy (CE) has become an important tool for the diagnosis of small bowel disease. Although CE does not require the skill of endoscope insertion, the images should be interpreted by a person with experience in assessing images of the gastrointestinal mucosa. This investigation aimed to document the number of cases needed by trainees to gain the necessary experience for CE competency.

METHODS

Fifteen cases were distributed to 12 trainees with no previous experience of CE during their gastroenterology training as clinical fellows. Twelve trainees and an expert were asked to read CE images from one patient each week for 15 weeks. The diagnosis was reported using five categories (no abnormalities detected, small bowel erosion or ulcer, small bowel tumor, Crohn disease, and active small bowel bleeding with no identifiable source). We then examined, using the κ coefficient, how the degree of mean agreements between the trainees and the expert changed as the training progressed each week.

RESULTS

The agreement rate of CE diagnosis increased as the frequencies of interpretation increased. Most of the mean κ coefficients were >0.60 and >0.80 after week 9 and 11, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Experience with approximately 10 cases of CE is appropriate for trainees to attain CE competency.

Small bowel capsule endoscopy for management of Crohn's disease: a retrospective tertiary care centre experience

BACKGROUND

The role of small bowel capsule endoscopy in the management of established Crohn's disease is uncertain.

METHODS

A retrospective study of small bowel capsule endoscopy tests performed in a referral centre from 2008 to 2011; 77 tests were performed in patients with known Crohn's disease. Six patients were excluded due to capsule test retention. Patients were classified into 4 indication groups: unexplained anaemia (G1, n = 6); discrepancy between clinical symptoms and morphology (G2, n = 25), full assessment of Crohn's disease location (G3, n = 37) and evaluation of mucosal healing (G4, n = 3).

RESULTS

Twenty-seven (38%) patients had no lesions, 32 (45%) moderate and 12 (17%) severe lesions. Endoscopic lesions were found in 4/6 (67%) G1 patients, 11/25 (44%) G2 and 28/37 (76%) G3 (p < 0.03). Three months after endoscopy was performed, 38/71 patients experienced a change in their treatment that was significantly associated with the severity of endoscopic lesions and with test indications; in 60%, 20% and 58% of patients from G1, G2 and G3, respectively (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Small bowel capsule endoscopy resulted in management changes in the majority of patients with established Crohn's disease.

Can capsule endoscopy be used as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of nonbleeding indications in daily clinical practice? A prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy (CE) and its impact on treatment and outcome in patients without bleeding indications.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

One hundred and sixty-five nonbleeding patients were enrolled in the study. The most common indications for CE were chronic abdominal pain alone (33 patients) or combined with chronic diarrhea (31 patients) and chronic diarrhea alone (30 patients). Among the 165 patients, 129 underwent CE for evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms and 36 for surveillance or disease staging.

RESULTS

CE findings were positive, suspicious and negative in 73 (44.2%), 13 (7.9%) and 79 (47.9%) of cases, respectively. The diagnostic yield was highest in patients with refractory celiac disease (10/10, 100%) and suspected Crohn's disease (5/6, 83.3%), followed by patients with chronic abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea (13/31, 41.9%), established Crohn's disease (2/6, 33.3%), chronic diarrhea alone (8/30, 26.7%), chronic abdominal pain alone (8/33, 24.2%) and other indications (3/13, 23.1%) (p < 0.005). The CE findings led to a change of medication in 74 (47.7%) patients, surgery in 15 (9.7%), administration of a strict gluten-free or other special diet in 13 (8.4%) and had other consequences in 11 (6.7%). Management was not modified in 42 (27.1%) patients. Among symptomatic patients (n = 129), 29 (22.5%) were lost to follow-up. The remaining 100 patients were followed up for 8.7 ± 4.0 months (range 2-19). Among the latter, resolution or improvement of symptoms was observed in 86 (86%) patients, no change in 11 (11%) and 3 (3%) died. All 86 patients who experienced resolution or improvement of their symptoms had a modification of their management after CE; only 7/11 patients whose symptoms did not change (63.6%) and 2/3 patients who died (66.7%) had a modification of management (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

CE appears to be a useful tool in the evaluation of patients with nonbleeding indications. The outcome of most patients with negative findings was excellent.

Capsule enteroscopy of the small intestine

The advent of video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in 2000 has dramatically changed the diagnosis and management of many diseases of the small intestine. In this review we discuss the procedure, the various indications and contraindications, adverse effects, and future prospects of VCE. VCE has a significant role in the diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal hemorrhage and Crohn's disease and has the highest diagnostic yield in comparison to other diagnostic modalities. Furthermore, VCE has gained an important role in the management and surveillance of suspected small bowel tumors and in patients with polyposis syndromes. Capsule enteroscopy may have a role in the work-up of symptomatic celiac disease and in the assessment of drug therapeutic efficacy and adverse small bowel effects. Although VCE is relatively non-invasive, it is contraindicated in patients with swallowing disorders, known or suspected gastrointestinal obstruction, strictures, or fistulas, and in patients with implanted electromedical devices. Other contraindications include pregnancy and children under 10. Capsule retention is the most feared complication of VCE with a frequency of 1%-2%. Risk factors and management of capsule retention are also discussed. It is probable that new indications for VCE will evolve and technological improvements will refine VCE's diagnostic accuracy and simplify video reviewing.

Enteroscopy in the diagnosis and management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

Capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy, have revolutionized our approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, largely replacing intraoperative enteroscopy and conventional barium studies. Despite its limitations, capsule endoscopy may well be the most reasonable initial diagnostic strategy to evaluate most patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, leaving balloon-assisted enteroscopy in reserve as a complementary tool. This article reviews the data on enteroscopy, with particular emphasis on the use of capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy for the diagnosis and management of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.