Impact of therapeutic interventions induced by capsule endoscopy on long term outcome in chronic obscure GI bleeding.
BACKGROUND
The diagnostic yield and the clinical impact of capsule endoscopy (CE) in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) are well known. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of therapeutic interventions induced by CE findings on long term outcome.


METHODS
Patients with chronic OGIB referred to our center from September 2003 to June 2005 for CE were included. Treatment of intestinal lesions was prescribed according to the clinical characteristics of patients and the nature of the lesions.


RESULTS
Forty patients were included, 18 females and 22 males. Median age was 54 yrs (range: 5-87) with a median follow-up of 13 months (range: 6-22). The diagnostic yield of CE was 75% (30/40). From 30 patients with positive CE, 16 received treatment (Group I) and 14 did not (Group II). Thus clinical impact was 40%. Ten patients had negative CE (Group III). During follow-up, bleeding recurrence was observed in only 1 patient from Group I (6%), 5 from Group II (36%) and 1 from Group III (10%). There were only significant differences between Group I vs Group II (P=0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
CE results had a favorable influence in patient outcome allowing for specific treatment as they showed significantly reduced recurrent bleeding.
García-Compean
Diego
D
Regional Center for the Study of Digestive Diseases, University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México. digarcia@ccr.dsi.uanl.mx
Armenta
Jesús Arturo
JA
Marrufo
Cesar
C
Gonzalez
Jose A
JA
Maldonado
Héctor
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence