Capsule endoscopy for the evaluation of patients with chronic abdominal pain.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic abdominal pain is a common complaint and in many patients even an extensive work-up does not reveal the cause for the pain. Given Imaging wireless capsule endoscopy is a new method for visualization of the entire small bowel. The aim of our study was to determine the role of capsule endoscopy in the evaluation of patients with unexplained chronic abdominal pain.


METHODS
20 patients with chronic abdominal pain of 6 - 96 months' duration were enrolled in the study. They had had an extensive diagnostic work-up which was negative. Capsule endoscopy was performed in all patients.


RESULTS
Imaging of the small intestine was excellent and the colon was reached in 16 patients. In 14 patients the study was completely normal; in six patients the procedure revealed findings which were considered to be clinically insignificant. All patients tolerated the capsule well and had no adverse effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Capsule endoscopy did not seem to have any significant clinical value in the evaluation of our patients with obscure chronic abdominal pain.
Bardan
E
E
Department of Gastroenterology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center and Tel-Aviv University, Sackler School of Medicine, Israel.
Nadler
M
M
Chowers
Y
Y
Fidder
H
H
Bar-Meir
S
S
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002214:Capsules; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D002214:Capsules