The application of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy in gastrointestinal bleeding patients

Abstract

Abstract Background Magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCCE) could simultaneously complete the observation of gastric and small bowel mucosa in one examination. It could not support therapeutic procedure. We aimed to evaluate the application of magnetically-control capsule endoscopy in gastrointestinal bleeding patients. Methods We reviewed the data of patients that finished MCCE in West China hospital, Sichuan University between 2021 January to 2021 December. In total of 123 patients, 50 complained of gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms were included. All patients’ data including gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms, comorbidities, drug history and laboratory test results were collected and analyzed. Results In all the patients, 92% patients had overt gastrointestinal bleeding symptoms, including melena (50%) and hematochezia (42%). The average hemoglobin concentration was 82.44 ± 17.33 g/L, and the median Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) was 8. Before MCCE examination, 28% patients had not received any endoscopic screening due to severe comorbidities, and the remaining 72% was considered as obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. MCCE detected gastrointestinal lesions in 96% patients, in which, 68% patients showed active bleeding lesions or recent hemorrhage stigmata during examination, including upper gastrointestinal lesions in 4 cases, small bowel lesions in 30 cases and colonic lesion in 1 case. In the other cases without bleeding signs, MCCE detected small bowel lesions in 11 cases, upper gastrointestinal lesions in 2 cases and colonic lesion in 1 case. All the patients finished both gastric and small bowel screening in one time. There were no side effects in all the patients during or after the MCCE examination, including emergency endoscopy intervention. Conclusions MCCE is available and safe in gastrointestinal bleeding patients with symptoms of melena, hematochezia, fecal occult blood positive and iron deficiency anemia of unknown origin.