Effect of mosapride on gastrointestinal transit time and diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy

Since its introduction, capsule endoscopy (CE) has made it possible to visualize the small intestine mucosa directly. However, owing to the limited battery life, only 60-80% of the capsules could reach the cecum and would possibly affect the diagnostic yield. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oral mosapride on gastrointestinal transit time and the diagnostic yield of CE.

Sixty patients were involved in this randomized, prospective and controlled study. The patients were randomly allocated to groups receiving either mosapride citrate or nothing. Patients in the mosapride group (n = 30) received 10 mg mosapride citrate 1 h before CE examination, while patients in the control group (n = 30) received no preparation. The gastrointestinal transit time, the number of CE reaching the cecum, and the diagnostic yield of each group were assessed in a single-blinded fashion.

Gastric emptying time was significantly shorter in the mosapride group than in the control group (13.5 min vs 34 min P = 0.035). Compared with the control group, the complete transit rate was significantly higher in the mosapride group (93.3% vs 66.7% P = 0.021). There was no significant difference between the two groups on the small bowel transit time and diagnostic yield.

Mosapride citrate accelerates the gastric emptying and completion rate of small bowel examination in patients undergoing CE.