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The longest duration of retention of a video capsule
Chris Harrington1, Colin Rodgers2
1Department of Medicine, Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim, UK.
Insights
A 15-year-old boy with Crohn's disease experienced capsule retention for nearly 7 years. This case highlights the long-term implications of undiagnosed small bowel inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Investigated iron deficiency anemia in an underweight adolescent.
- Suspected subclinical small bowel Crohn's disease based on elevated blood counts and imaging.
- Utilized video capsule endoscopy (VCE) for diagnosis.
Observation:
- VCE revealed inflammation and ulcers in the terminal ileum, confirming Crohn's disease.
- The capsule was retained by March 2008, despite steroid treatment.
- Imaging over several years showed the capsule's migration within inflamed small bowel loops.
Findings:
- The patient remained asymptomatic despite long-term capsule retention.
- Computed tomography (CT) identified the capsule within a mass of matted small bowel loops.
- Capsule retention persisted asymptomatically for 6 years and 10 months.
Implications:
- Demonstrates a rare complication of capsule endoscopy in pediatric Crohn's disease.
- Highlights the challenges in managing retained capsules in complex small bowel pathology.
- Underscores the importance of long-term monitoring in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Abstract:
An underweight 15-year-old boy had a video capsule endoscopy (VCE) to investigate iron deficient anaemia associated with elevated platelet and white cell counts. The suspicion was of subclinical small bowel Crohn's disease after the findings of a radiolabelled white cell scan. The VCE in May 2007 found patchy inflammation and superficial ulcers in the terminal ileum consistent with Crohn's disease. By March 2008, the patient remained asymptomatic but the capsule had not passed. He was treated with steroids to improve the inflammation and allow the capsule to pass. This was unsuccessful. Abdominal X-rays appeared to show that it was in the rectum. CT of the abdomen and pelvis in July 2012 showed that it was actually in the mid-distal ileum within a mass of inflamed and matted small bowel loops. He was last reviewed in March 2014. He has now retained the capsule asymptomatically for 6 years and 10 months.
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