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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2007; 13(8): 1289-1291
Published online Feb 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i8.1289
Published online Feb 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i8.1289
Capsule endoscopy retention as a helpful tool in the management of a young patient with suspected small-bowel disease
Chryssostomos Kalantzis, Periklis Apostolopoulos, Panagiota Mavrogiannis, Nikolaos Kalantzis, Gastroenterology Department, NIMTS Hospital, 10-12 Monis Petraki str. Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Theodorou, Ioannis Bramis, 1st Propedeutic Surgical Clinic, University of Athens Medical School, Hippocration Hospital, Athens, Greece
Xenophon Papaharalampous, Radiology Department, University of Athens Medical School, Areteion Hospital, Athens, Greece
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Periklis Apostolopoulos, NIMTS Hospital, Gastroenterology Department, 10-12 Monis Petraki str, Athens, Greece. periklisapo@yahoo.com
Telephone: +302-109613150
Received: December 10, 2006
Revised: December 29, 2006
Accepted: January 24, 2007
Published online: February 28, 2007
Revised: December 29, 2006
Accepted: January 24, 2007
Published online: February 28, 2007
Abstract
Capsule endoscopy is an easy and painless procedure permitting visualization of the entire small-bowel during its normal peristalsis. However, important problems exist concerning capsule retention in patients at risk of small bowel obstruction. The present report describes a young patient who had recurrent episodes of overt gastrointestinal bleeding of obscure origin, 18 years after small bowel resection in infancy for ileal atresia. Capsule endoscopy was performed, resulting in capsule retention in the distal small bowel. However, this event contributed to patient management by clearly identifying the site of obstruction and can be used to guide surgical intervention, where an anastomotic ulcer is identified.
Keywords: Capsule endoscopy, Retention, Small bowel obstruction, Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, Surgery