Wireless Video Capsule Endoscopy
Authored by: Dr. Poneh Rahimi,MD
Wireless video endoscopy or video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a noninvasive technology designed primarily to provide diagnostic imaging of the small intestine, an anatomic site that has proven peculiarly difficult to visualize. Images acquired are of excellent resolution and have a 1:8 magnification, which is higher than that of conventional endoscopes.
Indications
The indications for VCE of the small bowel are evolving and include:
* Diagnosis of the site of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in adults including iron deficiency anemia
* Suspected Crohn's disease
* Suspected Small bowel tumors and surveillance in patients with polyposis syndromes
* Suspected or refractory malabsorptive syndromes such as celiac disease
* In addition, VCE is being used to detect small bowel injury associated with the use of NSAIDs, and evaluate abdominal pain of unclear etiology.
Obscure Bleeding
VCE was able to identify causes of obscure bleeding more often than push enteroscopy in most report.
* The overall yield of VCE for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is in the range of 50 to 70%
* A meta-analysis of 14 observational studies estimated that the overall yield of VCE (63%) was significantly higher than for push enteroscopy (26%), and barium studies (8%).
* Comparison of the published reports is somewhat limited since the definition of a bleeding site was variable.
* The diagnostic yield with capsule studies for bleeding is highest when they are performed as close as possible to the bleeding episodes.
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Dr. Rahimi cares for a wide range of digestive system disorders, including:
- Colon polyps and colon cancer
- Diverticular disease
- Crohns disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Peptic ulcer disease and gastritis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Heartburn and swallowing difficulties
- Constipation and diarrhea
- Celiac disease
- Hepatitis
- Other digestive conditions