MiroCam capsule for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: a prospective, single centre experience

Capsule endoscopy is an established tool for the evaluation of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding but published literature is mostly limited to PillCam SB (Given Imaging, Israel).

The aims of this study were to determine the findings, the diagnostic yield and the rebleeding rate in a series of patients with overt or occult obscure gastrointestinal bleeding studied with MiroCam(Intromedic, Seoul, Korea) capsule endoscopy.

Data of 118 patients who underwent capsule endoscopy for overt or occult obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were prospectively collected between March 2009 and March 2011.

Evaluation of the entire small bowel (completion rate) was achieved in 96% of cases. Relevant lesions occurred in 58% of patients. Angiodysplasias was the most common finding. Six patients (9% of the positive findings) had a non-small-bowel lesion detected by capsule. The yield of capsule endoscopy in the overt group was greater than in the occult group but without achieving a significant difference (61% vs. 54%, p>0.05). Rebleeding rate was lower in patients with a negative examination (6%) than in patients with a positive one (17%) (p=0.03). Capsule retention was registered in 3 of 118 patients (2.5%).

MiroCam capsule endoscopy is a safe and effective tool for exploring small bowel with a high completion rate.