Capsule endoscopy: past,present, and future

A capsule endoscope is a swallowable wireless miniature camera for getting images of the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa. The initial capsule endoscope model was developed by Given Imaging and approved in Western countries in 2001. Before the introduction of capsule endoscopy (CE) and double-balloon endoscopy (DBE), there was no effective modality for the evaluation and management of patients with obscure GI bleeding. Obscure GI bleeding is defined as bleeding of unknown origin that persists or recurs after a negative initial or primary endoscopy (colonoscopy or upper endoscopy) result. The first capsule endoscope model, which is now regarded as a first-line tool for the detection of abnormalities of the small bowel, was the PillCam SB. It was approved in Japan in April 2007. The main indication for use of the PillCam SB is obscure GI bleeding. Almost the only complication of CE is capsule retention, which is the capsule remaining in the digestive tract for a minimum of 2 weeks. A retained capsule can be retrieved by DBE. There are some limitations of CE in that it cannot be used to obtain a biopsy specimen or for endoscopic treatment. However, the combination of a PillCam SB and DBE seems to be the best strategy for management of obscure GI bleeding. Recently, several new types of capsule endoscope have been developed, such as Olympus CE for the small bowel, PillCam ESO for investigation of esophageal diseases, and PillCam COLON for detection of colonic neoplasias. In the near future, CE is expected to have a positive impact on many aspects of GI disease evaluation and management.     

Enteroscopy

Wireless capsule endoscopy and double-balloon endoscopy are new methods of enteroscopy that have been introduced in recent years. Wireless capsule endoscopy is an epoch-making examination method that makes possible an endoscopic imaging examination of the entire small intestine without discomfort and without confining patients to a medical facility. Although it is expected to be useful as an initial examination for finding diseases of the small intestine, it cannot be used for biopsy or treatment. One risk associated with the capsule endoscopy technique is entrapment by strictures. Double-balloon endoscopy is based on a new insertion technique in which two balloons, one at the distal end of the endoscope and the other at the distal end of an overtube, are operated in combination, and the endoscope is inserted while simultaneously shortening the intestine. It can be inserted through either the mouth or the anus, allowing the observation of the entire gastrointestinal tract. It features excellent maneuverability even in the distal small intestine, and enables back-and-forth observation, biopsy, and endoscopic treatment at any given site. These two new enteroscopy techniques are expected to lead to innovations in how diseases of the small intestine are approached.     

A prospective, single-blind trial comparing wireless capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

BACKGROUND: Wireless capsule endoscopy (CE) and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) are new methods enabling diagnostic endoscopy of the entire small intestine. However, which of the two is superior is unclear. We therefore prospectively compared the clinical efficacy of CE and DBE. METHODS: We prospectively examined 32 patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. CE preceded DBE by 1-7 days, and all patients underwent DBE twice, by antegrade and retrograde approaches, to evaluate the entire small intestine. Physicians evaluating the results of CE and DBE were blind to the results of the other method. We evaluated diagnosis, diagnostic yield of the two methods, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: CE revealed abnormal findings in 29 (90.6%) of 32 patients. CE definitively or probably detected the sources of bleeding in 23 (71.9%) of the 32 patients, including angioectasias (eight), erosions (seven), ulcers (five), tumor (one), and hemorrhagic polyps (two). DBE definitely or probably detected the sources of bleeding in 21 (65.6%) of the 32 patients, including angioectasias (seven), erosions (four), ulcers (five), tumor (one), hemorrhagic polyps (two) and diverticula (two). CE yielded more abnormal findings than DBE (CE 90.6%, DBE 65.6%) (P = 0.032), although there were no significant differences in diagnostic yield between the methods. We were able to perform additional treatment or biopsy with DBE in 13 patients, including coagulation therapy (ten), endoscopic mucosal resection (one), biopsy (seven), and extraction of retained CE (two). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the superiority of CE in detecting abnormal lesions, and the superiority of DBE in endoscopic management.     

Management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: Comparison of guidelines between Japan and other countries

Small-bowel bleeding accounts for the majority of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, but it is caused by various types of small bowel disease, upper gastrointestinal disease, and colorectal disease. For the diagnosis, history taking and physical examination are required, leading to a determination of what diseases are involved. Next, cross-sectional imaging, such as computed tomography, should be carried out, followed by the latest enteroscopy such as small bowel capsule endoscopy and deep enteroscopy according to the severity of hemorrhage and patient condition. After a comprehensive diagnosis, medical, enteroscopic, or surgical treatment should be selected. This article reviews recent advances in the endoscopic diagnosis of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and compares perspectives of the management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in Japan with that in other countries.     

COOK宫颈扩张球囊联合缩宫素促进宫颈成熟和引产的临床观察

目的:考察COOK宫颈扩张球囊联合缩宫素促进宫颈成熟和引产的临床效果。方法:选取宫颈不成熟的临产妇90例,随机分为观察组和对照组,每组45例。对照组患者给予常规静脉滴注缩宫素引产,观察组患者采用COOK宫颈扩张球囊扩张后再行静脉滴注。对比两组宫颈成熟效果、临产开始时间、产程、引产成功率和妊娠结局。结果:观察组患者宫颈成熟有效率显著高于对照组(χ~2=4.05,P0.05)。观察组患者临产开始时间、产程显著短于对照组(P0.01)。观察组患者引产成功率和妊娠结局显著优于对照组(P0.05)。结论:COOK宫颈扩张球囊联合缩宫素促进宫颈成熟更优、引产效果更佳,具有临床应用价值。     

子宫颈扩张双球囊与欣普贝生在足月妊娠引产中的临床对照研究

目的探讨COOK促宫颈成熟球囊与前列腺素E2栓剂．欣普贝生在足月引产中应用的有效性和安全性。方法选取2010年3月至2011年8月在本院行引产的孕妇共77例,将其随机分为COOK球囊组（38例）和前列腺素E2栓剂．欣普贝生组（39例）,观察两组孕妇宫颈Bishop评分、宫缩情况、临产时间、分娩方式和时间及孕产妇、围产儿的一般状况。结果COOK球囊组产妇放置后宫颈Bishop评分较放置前有提高,且差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。COOK球囊组从放置到分娩的时间较欣普贝生组长,但差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,两组剖宫产率差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。欣普贝生组胎心异常8例（20．51％）,球囊组胎心异常2例（5．26％）,两组差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论COOK促宫颈成熟球囊的引产效果与欣普贝生相似,但具有温和、安全、并发症少等优点。