Capsule endoscopy retention in Zenker´s diverticulum

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Surgical Case Reports

Background:

• Small bowel capsule endoscopy is a valuable diagnostic tool for evaluating gastrointestinal bleeding and other small bowel pathologies.
• Unexplained capsule retention can occur, necessitating further investigation and management.

Observation:

• A patient underwent capsule endoscopy for small bowel evaluation, but the capsule was never recovered.
• Two years post-procedure, the patient presented with new-onset dysphagia.

Findings:

• Diagnostic imaging revealed the previously unrecovered capsule lodged within a Zenker's diverticulum.
• The capsule's presence in the Zenker's diverticulum was identified as the cause of the patient's dysphagia.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare but significant complication of capsule endoscopy, emphasizing the importance of capsule recovery.
• It underscores the potential for migrated foreign bodies to cause delayed symptoms in unusual locations like Zenker's diverticulum.
• Clinicians should consider long-term complications of retained endoscopic devices, even in asymptomatic intervals.