Latest possible timing for endoscopic-assisted intervention in capsule endoscopy.

Abstract

Background: Delayed upper gastrointestinal transit during small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) can lead to incomplete or failed examinations but can be treated by endoscopic-assisted intervention (EAI). The aim of this study was to investigate the latest possible timing of EAI.

Methods: Patients who underwent SBCE and received EAI between July 2007 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. A novel T-value was developed that accounted for the varied battery life of different generations of PillCam when determining the latest possible timing of EAI, where T is calculated as EAI time/[minimum battery life of the PillCam minus small bowel transit time (6 h)] × 100%. Patients were divided into two groups based on the cut-off value of the receiver operating characteristic curve: early EAI (group A, T < 76.3%) and late EAI (group B, T ≥ 76.3%). The primary outcome was the completion rate (CR), and the secondary outcome was the detection rate. The latest possible timing of EAI (h) was calculated according to the T-value formula and further verified in our recent data set.

Results: This study included 108 patients. The CR was significantly higher in group A than in group B (79.2% vs 58.2%; P = 0.018). Late EAI was an independent predictor of incomplete SBCE (odds ratio = 2.900; 95% confidence interval, 1.193-7.053). The latest possible timing of EAI was 1.5 h and 4.6 h from the start of the examination for PillCam SB1 and PillCam SB2/3, respectively.

Conclusions: Early EAI was associated with higher CR. The latest possible timing of EAI was 1.5 h for PillCam SB1 and 4.6 h for PillCam SB2/3 from the start of the examination.