摘要
The role of small bowel capsule endoscopy (CE) in suspected small bowel bleedingis well established and current European and other international guidelinesposition it as the first line test after negative bidirectional endoscopies. Insuspected mid-lower gastrointestinal bleeding (MLGIB) the diagnostic yield ofcolonoscopy is poor and may cause a delay in detecting small bowel disease. Acrucial aspect of small bowel capsule endoscope performance is the timing of theprocedure, the interval between the bleeding episode and capsule ingestion isinversely related to the diagnostic yield as confirmed by a recent meta-analysis.Currently the ongoing advances achieved by video CE in particular to evaluateboth small bowel and colon in a single test using double headed capsules, raisesquestions regarding the position of pan intestinal capsule in the current algorithmto investigate patients presenting with suspected MLGIB ahead of colonoscopy.Early evidence suggests pan intestinal capsule could fit well as a diagnostic“filter” test in this cohort of patients, thereby reserving invasive conventionalcolonoscopy or device assisted enteroscopy as therapeutics options only. The recentdevelopment of magnetically controlled CE and a blood sensing capsule pushthe boundaries of CE even further in patients presenting with suspected gastrointestinalbleeding. This review will discuss the current available evidence andfuture directions of CE in suspected MLGIB.
