Wireless capsule endoscopy indication as a predictor of study quality.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess whether specific indications are associated with poor visualization during wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) studies . Four hundred consecutive WCE studies performed at our institute were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Data was available on cases involving 176 males and 224 females. About 23 capsules failed to exit the stomach (excluded from the study). Poor visualization was reported in 66 (17%) WCE studies. The most common indications were gastrointestinal (GI) blood loss (271 cases; 72%), abdominal pain and/or diarrhea (73 cases; 19%), and suspected inflammatory bowel disease (46 cases; 12%). Of the 271 patients suffering GI bleeding, visualization was reported to be poor in 53 (19%) patients; among those showing other indications, visualization was poor in 13 (11%) patients (P = 0.02). After controlling for secondary indications and age, GI bleeding was associated with a higher rate of poor visualization compared to all other indications (odds ratio 2.6; 95% confidence interval 1.4-6.8).


CONCLUSIONS
Gastrointestinal bleeding as study indication for WCE is associated with a higher rate of poor visualization.
Knopp
Thomas C
TC
Division of Digestive Disease and Nutrition, Single Center Study, University of Kentucky Medical Center, 800 Rose Street, Room MN-649, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
Mardini
Houssam E
HE
Peña
Luis R
LR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007421:Intestine, Small; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric