Upper oesophageal images and Z-line detection with 2 different small-bowel capsule systems

Transmission of oesophageal images may vary between different small-bowel capsule endoscopy models. A retrospective review of 100 examinations performed with 2 different Small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) systems (PillCam^® and MiroCam^®) was performed. The oral cavity/aero-digestive tract (i.e., tongue, uvula and/or epiglottis) was captured/identified in almost all (99%) of PillCam^® videos but in none of MiroCam^® cases, P < 0.0001. Furthermore, oesophageal images (i.e., from the upper oesophageal sphincter to the Z-line were captured in 99% of PillCam^® videos (mean ± SD, 60.5 ± 334.1 frames, range: 0-3329 frames) and in 66% of MiroCam^® cases (mean ± SD, 11.1 ± 46.5 frames, range: 0-382 frames), P < 0.0001. The Z-line was identified in 42% of PillCam^® videos and 17% of MiroCam^®, P = 0.0002. This information might be useful when performing SBCE in patients with high risks for aspiration.