Exploring the feasibility of home-delivered capsule endoscopy with 5G support: innovations and carbon footprint insights.

Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant global health threat, necessitating early detection. Traditional diagnostic tools like optical colonoscopy have limitations prompting our '5G-SUCCEEDS' initiative to explore a novel approach involving remote colon capsule endoscopy (CCE).

Methods: This prospective feasibility study was conducted at a single hospital in England. Between December 2022 and September 2023, we introduced a remote CCE service within the 5G-SUCCEEDS framework. We undertook a feasibility study of CCE in patients with low-risk/moderate-risk CRC stratified by faecal haemoglobin. Outcomes included carbon footprint analysis (outlined through three potential clinical pathways) and patient-reported outcomes through structured questionnaires and interviews.

Results: Among 25 participants, 88% expressed satisfaction with remote CCE. 82% were willing to have remote CCE if clinically indicated in future. CCE findings included adenomatous polyps (58%), normal results (17%) and diverticulosis (21%), with no cancers identified in this pilot. Notably, we found that the carbon footprint associated with delivery of CCE at home (pathway 3) was lower compared with CCE delivered in a clinical setting (pathway 2). A fully optimised, automated scaled-up pathway would combine the delivery and collection of CCE equipment within a local area to reduce the carbon footprint of the travel element by 75%. Moreover, the conversion rate into a colonoscopy pathway is not static and clinicians acknowledge that this could be as low as 28%. Carbon footprint is more favourable for home-delivered CCE in the optimised scenario, while less so when considering the need for additional procedures (colonoscopy conversion).

Conclusion: The 5G-SUCCEEDS initiative highlights the feasibility and advantages of home-based diagnostics using CCE.