title: [Utility and cost of the endoscopic capsule. Three years' experience in our center].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, clinical impact and costs associated with capsule endoscopy (CE) in our center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We retrospectively analyzed the CE procedures carried out in our center from 2009 to 2012. The most frequent indications were investigation of anemia (39%), obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) (19%) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)(18%). Findings were positive in 51% of the patients, which had a clinical impact in 36.5%. The indication in which CE had the greatest clinical impact was IBD (74.5%, p<0,001). The clinical impact of CE in OGIB and anemia was 41% and 26%, respectively. The procedures performed represented an investment of at least 132 600€; since 63.5% of the procedures had no clinical impact, an investment of 84 200€ had no effect on patient management. In patients who underwent CE for OGIB, early performance of the procedure (<7 days) was related to the presence of pathological findings and clinical impact. We found no other epidemiological, clinical or analytic factors able to predict the clinical impact of CE in the various indications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, CE had the greatest impact in the study of IBD and, if performed early, in OGIB. However, the indications for CE in the study of anemia should be most precisely defined to achieve a greater clinical impact in this disorder.
authors: Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Majadahonda, Madrid, España. cristinajsuarezferrer@gmail.com
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Suárez Ferrer
authors: Yago
authors: Y
authors: González Lama
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Blázquez Gómez
authors: César
authors: C
authors: Barrios Peinado
authors: Jose Luis
authors: JL
authors: Martinez Porras
authors: Maria Isabel
authors: MI
authors: Vera Mendoza
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Abreu García
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult