Safety of capsule endoscopy using human body communication in patients with cardiac devices.
BACKGROUND
The MiroCam (IntroMedic, Ltd., Seoul, Korea) is a small-bowel capsule endoscope that uses human body communication to transmit data. The potential interactions between cardiac devices and the capsule endoscope are causes for concern, but no data are available for this matter.


OBJECTIVE
This clinical study was designed to evaluate the potential influence of the MiroCam capsules on cardiac devices.


METHODS
Patients with cardiac pacemakers or implantable cardiac defibrillators referred for evaluation of small bowel disease were prospectively enrolled in this study. Before capsule endoscopy, a cardiologist checked baseline electrocardiograms and functions of the cardiac devices. Cardiac rhythms were continuously monitored by 24-h telemetry during capsule endoscopy in the hospital. After completion of procedures, functions of the cardiac devices were checked again for interference. Images from the capsule endoscopy were reviewed and analyzed for technical problems.


RESULTS
Six patients, three with pacemakers and three with implantable cardiac defibrillators, were included in the study. We identified no disturbances in the cardiac devices and no arrhythmias detected on telemetry monitoring during capsule endoscopy. No significant changes in the programmed parameters of the cardiac devices were noted after capsule endoscopy. There were no imaging disturbances from the cardiac devices on capsule endoscopy.


CONCLUSIONS
Capsule endoscopy using human body communication to transmit data was safely performed in patients with cardiac pacemakers or implantable cardiac defibrillators. Images from the capsule endoscopy were not affected by cardiac devices. A further large-scale study is required to confirm the safety of capsule endoscopy with various types of cardiac devices.
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Joo Won
JW
Chung
Hye Jin
HJ
Hwang
Moon Jae
MJ
Chung
Jeong Youp
JY
Park
Hui-Nam
HN
Pak
Si Young
SY
Song
D000368:Aged; D053705:Capsule Endoscopes; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061214:Patient Safety; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies