Wireless capsule endoscopy in Chinese patients with suspected small bowel diseases

To evaluate the use of wireless capsule endoscopy in Chinese patients.

Retrospective analysis.

University teaching hospital, Hong Kong.

Twenty-eight patients who had undergone wireless capsule endoscopy between December 2002 and December 2003.

Diagnoses according to findings of capsule endoscopy and complications from the procedure.

The mean age of the 28 patients (15 men and 13 women) was 60.0 (standard deviation, 18.3) years. The indications for capsule endoscopy were obscure gastro-intestinal bleeding (n=16), unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia (n=9), and recurrent abdominal pain (n=3). Half of the patients had abnormal endoscopy findings that may account for their presenting symptoms. The most common abnormality was angioectasia of the small bowel. Small bowel ulcers and erosions were also noted in three patients with obscure bleeding. In contrast, none of the patients with recurrent abdominal pain had abnormal capsule endoscopy. No complications arose from the procedure.

Wireless capsule endoscopy is a safe and useful mode of investigation for the diagnosis of obscure gastro-intestinal bleeding in Chinese patients.