Capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding--an Indian experience.
BACKGROUND
Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) is a common indication for capsule endoscopy (CE). Reports on diagnostic yield of CE in this situation show a wide variation. We evaluated the diagnostic yield and clinical impact of CE in patients with OGIB.


METHODS
We reviewed the medical records of patients with OGIB who underwent CE at our institution between June 2002 and October 2005.


RESULTS
154 patients (mean age 47 [SD 17] years; 117 men), including 74 with overt OGIB and 80 with occult OGIB, underwent CE. CE yielded positive findings in 57 of 74 patients (77%) with overt OGIB and 22 of 80 (27%) of those with occult OGIB (p < 0.0001); the overall positive diagnostic yield was 52%. NSAID-induced lesions (15%), angiodysplasias (14%) and aphthous ulcers (12%) were the most frequent findings. CE helped in planning further management in 79% of patients with overt OGIB and 26% of those with occult OGIB.


CONCLUSIONS
CE is a useful diagnostic technique in patients with OGIB, especially those with overt OGIB.
Gupta
Rajesh
R
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, 6-3-661 Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500-082, India. aigindia@yahoo.co.in
Lakhtakia
Sandeep
S
Tandan
Manu
M
Banerjee
Rupa
R
Ramchandani
Mohan
M
Anuradha
S
S
Ramji
C
C
Rao
G V
GV
Pradeep
R
R
Reddy
D Nageshwar
DN
D000328:Adult; D053705:Capsule Endoscopes; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008904:Miniaturization; D009780:Occult Blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity