Sensitivity and inter-observer variability for capsule endoscopy image analysis in a cohort of novice readers

A Fully Edible Transistor Based on a Toothpaste Pigment

Edible electronics is emerging in recent years motivated by a diverse number of healthcare applications, where sensors can be safely ingested without the need for any medical supervision. However, the current lack of stable and well-performing edible semiconductors needs to be addressed to reach technological maturity and allow the surge of a new generation of edible circuits. In the quest for good-performing edible semiconductors, this study has explored the possibility of considering materials that are not regulated for intentional ingestion, yet are daily swallowed with no adverse reactions, such as pigments contained in toothpaste. This work first elaborates on the basis of inadvertent ingestion data to estimate the quantity of daily ingested Copper(II) Phthalocyanine (CuPc), a whitening pigment and well-known organic semiconductor. Subsequently, CuPc is employed in the first demonstration of fully edible electrolyte-gated transistors operating at low voltage (<1 V), displaying good reproducibility and stable performance for over a year. The results indicate that, with the daily ingested quantity of CuPc from toothpaste, more than 104 edible transistors can be realized, thus paving the way to edible circuits, a critical component of future edible electronic systems.

Training in video capsule endoscopy: Current status and unmet needs

Since its introduction to clinical practice nearly 20 years ago, wireless capsule endoscopy has revolutionized the landscape in the diagnosis and management of small bowel diseases. Over the past 10 years, capsule endoscopy has evolved beyond the small intestine and a range of capsules are now available to examine the esophagus, stomach and colon. Because of its ease of use, tolerability, paucity of complications and ability to visualize the entire gastrointestinal tract, capsule endoscopy has entered the mainstream of clinical practice. This review of the literature summarizes the current state of capsule training and highlights the limited data available to assess reader competence and standards expected of an independent practitioner. There are neither standardized teaching strategies nor national or international metrics for accreditation of physicians and non-physicians interested in mastering this examination. Summating the few publications, there appears to be consensus that diagnostic expertise improves with experience, and that trainees should be fully supervised for at least 20 full case studies. Formative and summative assessment is advisable and the number of taught cases should not be the sole determinant of competence. The review also highlights differences in recommendations from major national gastroenterology societies. Finally, the authors discuss areas of unmet needs in teaching and learning for capsule endoscopy.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the performance of nurses in small bowel capsule endoscopy reading

INTRODUCTION

Increasing demands on healthcare systems mean that nurses are taking on more roles as physician extenders. Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a laborious procedure where specialist nurses could reduce physician workload and rationalise resource utilisation. The aim of this review and meta-analysis is to consolidate data on nurses' performance in small bowel CE (SBCE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted for randomised controlled trials and comparative studies on nurses in SBCE reading compared to physicians. We examined the performance of nurses compared to SBCE-trained physicians.

RESULTS

Sixteen relevant studies were identified, with 820 SBCE examinations involving 20 nurses. 11/16 studies reported the numbers of SBCE findings detected. Overall, the pooled proportion of all findings reported by physicians and nurses was 86%. Studies involving nurses with endoscopic experience showed a summative detection rate of 89%. 7/16 studies reported the number of videos where there was agreement between the nurse and physicians for overall findings/diagnosis. The overall proportion of videos with agreement was 68%. In studies where nurses had endoscopy experience, the proportion of videos with agreement was 71%.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis supports a more active role for nurses in SBCE reading. We suggest nurses can function as independent CE readers in general, given adequate training and formal credentialing.

Lessons from korean capsule endoscopy multicenter studies

Since its development, video capsule endoscopy (VCE) introduced a new area in the study of small bowel disease. We reviewed and discussed current issues from Korean capsule endoscopy multicenter studies. Main results are as follows: First, there was no significant difference in diagnostic yield according to the method of bowel preparation. Second, VCE represents a reliable and influential screening measure in patients with chronic unexplained abdominal pain and this technique could successfully alter the clinical course especially for patients with small bowel tumor. Third, the inter-observer variation in the expert group was lower than that in trainee group. Fourth, studies about the spontaneous capsule passage after retention showed 2.5% of retention rate and the size of lumen was an important factor of spontaneous passage. We need larger scale studies on the effect of bowel preparation methods on the diagnostic yield and further studies about the learning curve or unique capsule endoscopic findings for small intestinal diseases in Korean patients.

Training in Capsule Endoscopy: Are We Lagging behind?

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a new modality to investigate the small bowel. Since it was invented in 1999, CE has been adopted in the algorithm of small bowel investigations worldwide. Reporting a CE video requires identification of landmarks and interpretation of pathology to formulate a management plan. There is established training infrastructure in place for most endoscopic procedures in Europe; however despite its wide use, there is a lack of structured training for CE. This paper focuses on the current available evidence and makes recommendations to standardise training in CE.

Interobserver agreement in describing video capsule endoscopy findings: a multicentre prospective study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Few studies have specifically addressed interobserver agreement in describing lesions identified during capsule endoscopy. The aim of our study is to evaluate interobserver agreement in the description of capsule endoscopy findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive short segments of capsule endoscopy were prospectively observed by 8 investigators. Seventy-five videos were prepared by an external investigator (gold standard). The description of the findings was reported by the investigators using the same validated and standardized capsule endoscopy structured terminology. The agreement was assessed using Cohen's kappa statistic.

RESULTS

As concerns the ability to detect a lesion, the agreement with the gold standard was moderate (kappa 0.48), as well as the agreement relating to the final diagnosis (κ 0.45). The best agreement was observed in identifying the presence of active bleeding (κ 0.72), whereas the poorest agreement concerned the lesion size (κ 0.32). The agreement with the GS was significantly better in endoscopists with higher case/volume of capsule endoscopy per year. Diagnostic concordance was better in the presence of angiectasia than in the presence of polyps or ulcers/erosions.

CONCLUSIONS

Correct lesion identification and diagnosis seem more likely to occur in presence of angiectasia, and for readers with more experience in capsule endoscopy reading.

Inter-observer agreement for detection of small bowel Crohn's disease with capsule endoscopy

OBJECTIVE

Compared to other modalities, capsule endoscopy (CE) has a high diagnostic yield for diagnosing small bowel Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to determine the inter-observer agreement for detection of small bowel CD with predefined diagnostic criteria.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty patients with suspected or known CD were included in the study. Observers were blind to patient histories, the results of ileo-colonoscopies, and small bowel examinations. More than three ulcerations (aphthous lesions or ulcers) or the presence of stenosis caused by inflammation or fibrosis was diagnostic of small bowel CD. Three observers with experience in gastrointestinal endoscopy and CE participated in the study.

RESULTS

The presence or absence of small bowel CD was determined with complete agreement in 23 patients, nine patients with and 14 without small bowel CD. The inter-observer agreement was substantial for the diagnosis (kappa = 0.68) and moderate for the localization of CD (kappa = 0.44). Aphthous lesions were detected with only fair agreement (kappa = 0.38). The time intervals to passage of the pylorus and ileo-caecal valve were detected with excellent intra-class correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

CE is performed with substantial inter-observer agreement for detection of small bowel CD. In the majority of patients, the presence or absence of small bowel CD is unequivocal. However, in patients with few or minor lesions, the diagnosis is observer dependent.

The anatomy of anatomy: a review for its modernization

Anatomy has historically been a cornerstone in medical education regardless of nation or specialty. Until recently, dissection and didactic lectures were its sole pedagogy. Teaching methodology has been revolutionized with more reliance on models, imaging, simulation, and the Internet to further consolidate and enhance the learning experience. Moreover, modern medical curricula are giving less importance to anatomy education and to the acknowledged value of dissection. Universities have even abandoned dissection completely in favor of user-friendly multimedia, alternative teaching approaches, and newly defined priorities in clinical practice. Anatomy curriculum is undergoing international reformation but the current framework lacks uniformity among institutions. Optimal learning content can be categorized into the following modalities: (1) dissection/prosection, (2) interactive multimedia, (3) procedural anatomy, (4) surface and clinical anatomy, and (5) imaging. The importance of multimodal teaching, with examples suggested in this article, has been widely recognized and assessed. Nevertheless, there are still ongoing limitations in anatomy teaching. Substantial problems consist of diminished allotted dissection time and the number of qualified anatomy instructors, which will eventually deteriorate the quality of education. Alternative resources and strategies are discussed in an attempt to tackle these genuine concerns. The challenges are to reinstate more effective teaching and learning tools while maintaining the beneficial values of orthodox dissection. The UK has a reputable medical education but its quality could be improved by observing international frameworks. The heavy penalty of not concentrating on sufficient anatomy education will inevitably lead to incompetent anatomists and healthcare professionals, leaving patients to face dire repercussions.

Inter-observer agreement on the interpretation of capsule endoscopy findings based on capsule endoscopy structured terminology: a multicenter study by the Korean Gut Image Study Group

OBJECTIVE

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is a novel investigation for the diagnosis of small-bowel disease but its interpretation is highly subjective. We studied the inter-observer agreement and accuracy of the interpretation of CE findings based on capsule endoscopy structured terminology (CEST).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty-six CE video clips were collected from eight university hospitals in South Korea and were independently reviewed by 13 gastroenterology experts and 10 trainees. All investigators recorded their findings based on CEST. To determine the accuracy of individual viewers, we defined the 'gold standard' as a joint review by four experts.

RESULTS

The 56 CE video clips included five normal cases, 19 cases of protruding lesions, 21 cases of depressed lesions, three cases of flat lesions, one case of abnormal mucosa, six cases with blood in the lumen, and one case of stenotic lumen. The overall mean accuracies for the experts and trainees were 74.3% +/- 22.6% and 61.7% +/- 25.4%, respectively. The overall accuracy for the trainee group was significantly lower than that for the expert group (P < 0.001), especially in normal, tumor, venous structure, and ulcer cases. The accuracies of the two groups varied with the CE findings. The accuracies were higher in cases with more prominent intraluminal changes (e.g. active small-bowel bleeding, ulcer, tumor, stenotic lumen). In contrast, subtle mucosal lesions, such as erosion, angioectasia, and diverticulum, had lower accuracies. The mean kappa values for the experts and trainees were 0.61 (range 0.39-0.97) and 0.46 (range 0.17-0.66), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that there was substantial agreement between experts and moderate agreement between trainees. In order to achieve higher accuracies and better inter-observer agreement, we need not only more experience with CE but also consensus regarding CEST terminology.

Computer-aided learning in capsule endoscopy leads to improvement in lesion recognition ability

BACKGROUND

The rapid expansion in use of capsule endoscopy (CE) has led to discussion about training needs and provision. The lesion recognition skills required for CE are ideally suited to computer-based training.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the educational effectiveness of a computer-based CE training and testing module on trainees with varying experience.

DESIGN

This was a prospective educational evaluation study.

SETTING

Academic endoscopy unit.

PATIENTS

This study involved 28 trainees of varying CE experience (medical students, gastroenterology trainees) and 4 CE experts.

INTERVENTION

Trainees (medical students and gastroenterology trainees) without CE experience completed a 60-question, computer-based test module consisting of 30-second video clips and multiple-choice questions. Without feedback, trainees then completed a comprehensive, menu-driven, computer-based CE training module. The test module was then completed a second time and feedback was given. Expert performance on the test module was benchmarked by 4 CE experts.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

The first measure was the difference in baseline performance on the test module between trainees and experts (to determine construct validity). The second measure was a change in performance on the test module after training (to determine content validity of the training module).

RESULTS

A significant difference was noted in baseline performance (P < .001) among CE experts (mean 73.8% +/- 8.0%), gastroenterology trainees (49.5% +/- 10.9%), and medical students (29.5% +/- 3.3%). Performance improved significantly (P < .001) in both trainee groups after training (gastroenterology trainees' posttraining score 62.1% +/- 7.7%; medical students' 46.7% +/- 6.8%).

CONCLUSION

Computer-based learning has a potentially significant role in the development of a training syllabus for CE and in CE accreditation.

How should we train capsule endoscopy? A pilot study of performance changes during a structured capsule endoscopy training program

There are no validated training/accreditation guidelines for capsule endoscopy. We assessed the utility of a structured training program on two experienced gastroenterologists and one endoscopy nurse. Validated studies were standardized for difficulty in blocks of three. Trainees completed a standardized data sheet for each study reported (12 studies for the physicians, 22 studies for the nurse). After each block the trainer graded performance and highlighted learning points. Statistical analysis was performed. Physician trainees accurately identified landmarks throughout, while the nurse made errors even at the end of training. Improvement in lesion detection and diagnostic accuracy improved in the nurse, but in only one of the physician trainees, highlighting the variability in learning curves. Overall performance improved in all trainees but was most marked for the nurse trainee (correlation coefficient 0.41, P = 0.06). Improvements in lesion recognition and diagnosis can be demonstrated in senior trainees and nurses following a structured training program; however, there is considerable variability.

Is formal training necessary for capsule endoscopy? The largest gastroenterology trainee study with controls

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the infrastructure to train gastroenterologists in capsule endoscopy. The level of capsule endoscopy exposure among trainees in the United Kingdom or Europe has also not been quantified.

AIMS AND METHODS

To assess the ability of 10 gastroenterology trainees with endoscopy experience to interpret 10 capsule endoscopy videos against five medical students, with an expert in capsule endoscopy as the gold standard. Parameters assessed included gastric emptying time, small bowel transit and the diagnosis made. A questionnaire survey assessed the level of capsule endoscopy exposure among United Kingdom trainees.

RESULTS

Trainees were better at determining the gastric emptying time (p=0.013) and more likely to record true positives compared to the students (p=0.037). They were also less likely to record false positives (p=0.005) and more likely to reach the correct diagnosis (p=0.001, OR 3.6, CI 1.8-7.4). Our survey found that, 65% of trainees had prior exposure to capsule endoscopy but only 13% had done capsule endoscopy reporting. Sixty seven percent felt capsule endoscopy should be incorporated into their training.

CONCLUSION

This study has shown that prior endoscopic experience enables trainees to interpret capsule endoscopy more accurately than medical students. However, there is a demand for focussed training which would enable trainees to reliably interpret pathology on capsule endoscopy.

American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute technical review on obscure gastrointestinal bleeding

This literature review and the recommendations therein were prepared for the AGA Institute Clinical Practice and Economics Committee. The paper was approved by the Committee on March 12, 2007, and by the AGA Institute Governing Board on May 19, 2007.