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Yields similar for 8-, 12-hour capsule endoscopies; some patients benefited from longer procedures
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LAS VEGAS — Eight- and 12-hour capsule endoscopies resulted in similar diagnostic yields, but the longer procedure can result in clinically significant findings, according to data presented at the 2012 American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting.
Researchers evaluated data from 100 patients who underwent capsule endoscopy using the 12-hour PillCam SB2-ex between July 2011 and May 2012. They compared results against 100 patients who received endoscopy using the 8-hour PillCam SB2 between November 2010 and August 2011. Evaluated factors included the presence of significant findings after 8 hours, along with patient demographics, indications for endoscopy, study length, and the time during each procedure at which the most significant finding was observed.
Patients in both groups were of similar ages (mean 71.79 years, 12-hour group vs. 72.96 years, 8-hour group, P=.54) and gender composition (48% male, 12-hour group; 50%, 8-hour group, P=.89). Obscure GI bleeding and anemia were the most common indications for endoscopy in both groups.
The longer procedure was completed more frequently (89% of cases compared with 79%), but this difference did not achieve statistical significance (P=.08). The mean small bowel viewing time was longer in the 12-hour group (4:56:09 compared with 4:09:15), but no significant difference was observed in diagnostic yield (35% vs. 44%, P=.25). Investigators noted clinically significant positive findings after 8 hours in 8.6% of 12-hour cases, and concluded that additional large-population studies are required to establish the ideal patient population for the 12-hour capsule endoscopy.
“[Clinicians] need to understand that the 12-hour capsule does produce less incomplete studies; that’s one of the main reasons why it was introduced. It is worth a shot to use it,” researcher Merajur Rahman, MD, North Shore – Long Island Jewish Medical Center, told Healio.com. “The 12-hour capsule is beneficial in certain people, in that it can [reveal] significant findings beyond 8 hours, but we need further studies to prove that.”
For more information:
Rahman M. P717: Comparison of the Diagnostic Yield and Clinical Outcomes Between Standard 8 Hour Capsule Endoscopy and the New 12 Hour Capsule Endoscopy. Presented at: the 2012 American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 19-24, Las Vegas.