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VIDEO CAPSULE ENDOSCOPY: INDICATIONS, DIAGNOSTIC YIELD AND SAFETY IN SULAIMANI GOVERNORATE

2013; Volume: 3; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.17656/jsmc.10030

2304-7224

Taha A. Alkarbuli, Hiwa A. Hussein, Ali Ramadhan, Sabir Hamed M. Ameen,

Gastrointestinal disorders and treatments

Background The small intestine is the most difficult part of the intestine to examine. Video capsule endoscopy has revolutionized the study of the small intestine. Since its availability, no local data are available to optimize the use of this valuable diagnostic procedure. Objectives To review the indications, diagnostic yield and safety of video capsule endoscopy in a tertiary referral center. Patients and Methods This retrospective descriptive study was done in Kurdistan Center for Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Sulaimani City from June 2009 to February 2012. A total of 43 patients underwent video capsule endoscopy during this period (18 females, 25 males) with their age ranging from 9 years to 87 years (mean=37 years). Results Indications of video capsule endoscopy were obscure gastrointestinal hemorrhage (N.=20, diagnostic yield=70%), suspicion of Crohn's disease (N.=11, diagnostic yield=64%), chronic abdominal pain (N.=8, diagnostic yield=50%), small intestinal polyposis syndrome (N.=2, diagnostic yield = 100%) and chronic unexplained diarrhea (N.=2, diagnostic yield=0%). The most common finding was gastrointestinal erosions and/or ulcers (N. = 21, 48.9%). No capsule retention has been recorded. Conclusion Video capsule endoscopy is safe and has an acceptable diagnostic yield in obscure gastrointestinal hemorrhage, Crohn's disease and small intestinal polyposis syndrome. However, more studies are warranted to establish the impact of these diagnostic yields on patient outcome rates.