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Right lateral position does not affect gastric transit times of video capsule endoscopy: a prospective study
Jose R Aparicio1, Juan Martínez, Juan A Casellas
1Current affiliations: Endoscopy Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain. aparicio_jos@gva.es
Background:
Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) examination of the small bowel is not complete in approximately 20% of the procedures. This fact limits its diagnostic yield. One of the main factors that influences the small-bowel transit time (SBTT) is the gastric transit time (GTT), ie, the interval in which the capsule stays in the stomach. It has been described that placing the patient in a right lateral position (RLP) after swallowing the capsule could decrease the GTT.
Objective:
To investigate whether the RLP, after the patient swallows the capsule, shortens the GTT and, secondarily, increases the rate of complete procedures.
Design:
Randomized prospective study.
Setting:
Third-level hospital.
Patients:
Consecutive outpatients in whom VCE was indicated. Exclusion criteria were inpatients and previous gastric surgery.
Intervention:
GTT for RLP 30 minutes after swallowing the capsule versus non-RLP (standing up position).
Main Outcome Measurements:
The GTT, SBTT, and rate of complete procedures (examination of the entire small bowel).
Results:
We did not observe significant differences in the GTT, the SBTT, and the complete procedures between groups.
Limitation:
Only outpatients were included.
Conclusions:
RLP after swallowing the capsule does not influence either GTT nor the rate of VCE complete procedures.
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