Guidelines for video capsule endoscopy: emphasis on Crohn's disease

Capsule Endoscopy in Crohn's Disease-From a Relative Contraindication to Habitual Monitoring Tool

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that may involve the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Habitual disease monitoring is highly important during disease management, aiming to identify and treat disease exacerbations, in order to avoid immediate and future complications. Currently, ilio-clonoscopy is the gold standard for mucosal assessment. However, the procedure is invasive, involves sedation and allows for visualization of the colon and only a small part of the terminal ileum, while most of the small bowel is not visualized. Since CD may involve the whole length of the small bowel, the disease extent might be underestimated. Capsule endoscopy (CE) provides a technology that can screen the entire bowel in a non-invasive procedure, with minimal side effects. In recent years, this technique has gained in popularity for CD evaluation and monitoring. When CE was first introduced, two decades ago, the fear of possible capsule retention in the narrowed inflamed bowel lumen limited its use in CD patients, and a known CD located at the small bowel was even regarded as a relative contraindication for capsule examination. However, at present, as experience using CE in CD patients has accumulated, this procedure has become one of the accepted tools for disease diagnosis and monitoring. In our current review, we summarize the historic change in the indications and contraindications for the usage of capsule endoscopy for the evaluation of CD, and discuss international recommendations regarding CE’s role in CD diagnosis and monitoring.

Monitoring established Crohn's disease with pan-intestinal video capsule endoscopy in Europe: clinician consultation using the nominal group technique

OBJECTIVE

Monitoring established Crohn's disease (CD) through a "treat-to-target" strategy aims to reduce and prevent long-term bowel damage and disability. Despite the availability of different monitoring techniques, there is a current lack of integrated evidence to guide optimal monitoring in terms of appropriate tools and timing. Pan-intestinal video capsule endoscopy (PCE) enables non-invasive and direct visualization of the entire intestinal tract with proven safety and efficacy. This study aims to generate insights on the value of PCE for monitoring established CD from the physician's perspective.

METHODS

The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to create discussion around pre-defined research questions aimed at identifying target patient populations for PCE, benefits of PCE in terms of improving disease management, comparative benefits of PCE over standard of care, research priorities to ratify the use of PCE, and hurdles to PCE utilization. A NGT panel was held in Brussels, Belgium in October 2018 with 9 gastroenterology experts. Data were collected from multiple rankings of statements to the research questions and analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

Consensus indicated that PCE is differentiated from other diagnostic tools, allowing for non-invasive and direct visualization of the luminal intestinal tract in one single procedure. Participants agreed that PCE is beneficial for mapping and grading established CD in all patients, enabling individual and tailored treatment decision-making. Time required to read PCE results was identified as the main utilization hurdle by participants. Well-designed studies are needed to confirm improved outcomes amongst patients with CD managed through a PCE-guided approach.

CONCLUSIONS

This study, using the NGT, generated expert opinion on the value of PCE for monitoring established CD in terms of target patient populations and benefits compared to other diagnostic modalities. Participants perceived PCE to facilitate a "treat-to-target" strategy for CD management. Further research is needed to support this value perception.

[Clinical and Technical Guideline for Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Tissue Acquisition of Pancreatic Solid Tumor: Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy]

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid tumor requires a strict recommendation for its proper use in clinical practice because of its technical difficulty and invasiveness. The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy appointed a Task Force to draft clinical practice guidelines for EUS-guided tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid tumor. The strength of recommendation and the level of evidence for each statement were graded according to the Minds Handbook for Clinical Practice Guideline Development 2014. The committee, comprising a development panel of 16 endosonographers and an expert on guideline development methodology, developed 12 evidence-based recommendations in eight categories intended to help physicians make evidence- based clinical judgments with regard to the diagnosis of pancreatic solid tumor. This clinical practice guideline discusses EUS-guided sampling in pancreatic solid tumor and makes recommendations on circumstances that warrant its use, technical issues related to maximizing the diagnostic yield (e.g., needle type, needle diameter, adequate number of needle passes, sample obtaining techniques, and methods of specimen processing), adverse events of EUS-guided tissue acquisition, and learning-related issues. This guideline was reviewed by external experts and suggests best practices recommended based on the evidence available at the time of preparation. This guideline may not be applicable for all clinical situations and should be interpreted in light of specific situations and the availability of resources. It will be revised as necessary to cover progress and changes in technology and evidence from clinical practice.

Clinical and Technical Guideline for Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-Guided Tissue Acquisition of Pancreatic Solid Tumor: Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE)

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid tumor requires a strict recommendation for its proper use in clinical practice because of its technical difficulty and invasiveness. The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE) appointed a task force to draft clinical practice guidelines for EUS-guided tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid tumor. The strength of recommendation and the level of evidence for each statement were graded according to the Minds Handbook for Clinical Practice Guideline Development 2014. The committee, comprising a development panel of 16 endosonographers and an expert on guideline development methodology, developed 12 evidence-based recommendations in eight categories intended to help physicians make evidence-based clinical judgments with regard to the diagnosis of pancreatic solid tumor. This clinical practice guideline discusses EUS-guided sampling in pancreatic solid tumor and makes recommendations on circumstances that warrant its use, technical issues related to maximizing the diagnostic yield (e.g., needle type, needle diameter, adequate number of needle passes, sample obtaining techniques, and methods of specimen processing), adverse events of EUS-guided tissue acquisition, and learning-related issues. This guideline was reviewed by external experts and suggests best practices recommended based on the evidence available at the time of preparation. This guideline may not be applicable for all clinical situations and should be interpreted in light of specific situations and the availability of resources. It will be revised as necessary to cover progress and changes in technology and evidence from clinical practice. (Gut Liver 2021;15:-374)

Clinical and Technical Guideline for Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-Guided Tissue Acquisition of Pancreatic Solid Tumor: Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE)

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid tumor requires a strict recommendation for its proper use in clinical practice because of its technical difficulty and invasiveness. The Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE) appointed a Task Force to draft clinical practice guidelines for EUS-guided tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid tumor. The strength of recommendation and the level of evidence for each statement were graded according to the Minds Handbook for Clinical Practice Guideline Development 2014. The committee, comprising a development panel of 16 endosonographers and an expert on guideline development methodology, developed 12 evidence-based recommendations in 8 categories intended to help physicians make evidence-based clinical judgments with regard to the diagnosis of pancreatic solid tumor. This clinical practice guideline discusses EUS-guided sampling in pancreatic solid tumor and makes recommendations on circumstances that warrant its use, technical issues related to maximizing the diagnostic yield (e.g., needle type, needle diameter, adequate number of needle passes, sample obtaining techniques, and methods of specimen processing), adverse events of EUS-guided tissue acquisition, and learning-related issues. This guideline was reviewed by external experts and suggests best practices recommended based on the evidence available at the time of preparation. This guideline may not be applicable for all clinical situations and should be interpreted in light of specific situations and the availability of resources. It will be revised as necessary to cover progress and changes in technology and evidence from clinical practice.

Diagnostic yield of colon capsule endoscopy for Crohn's disease lesions in the whole gastrointestinal tract

BACKGROUND

Crohn's disease (CD) can involve the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract as well as the small and large bowel. PillCam colon capsule endoscopy (PCCE-2) enables observation of the whole GI tract, but its diagnostic yield for CD lesions in the whole GI tract remains unknown.

AIM

To elucidate the diagnostic yield of PCCE-2 in patients with CD.

METHODS

Patients with CD who underwent PCCE-2 and double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) using oral and anal approaches were evaluated for CD lesions in the whole GI tract. We divided the small bowel into three segments (jejunum, ileum, and terminal ileum), and the large bowel into four segments (right colon, transverse colon, left colon, rectum). Detection of ulcer scars, erosion, ulcers, bamboo joint-like appearance, and notch-like appearance was assessed in each segment. The diagnostic yield of PCCE-2 was analyzed based on the DBE results as the gold standard.

RESULTS

Of the total 124 segments, the sensitivities of PCCE-2 for ulcer scars, erosion, and ulcers were 83.3%, 93.8%, and 88.5%, respectively, and the specificities were 76.0%, 78.3%, and 81.6%, respectively. For the 60 small bowel segments, the sensitivities were 84.2%, 95.5%, and 90.0%, respectively, and the specificities were 63.4%, 86.8%, and 87.5%, respectively. For the 64 large bowel segments, the sensitivities were 80.0%, 90.0%, and 83.3%, respectively, and the specificities were 84.7%, 72.2%, and 77.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

PCCE-2 provides a high diagnostic yield for lesions in the whole GI tract of patients with CD. Thus, we recommend its use as a pan-enteric tool in clinical settings.

Economic analysis of the adoption of capsule endoscopy within the British NHS

Objective

Identification of a cost-effective treatment strategy is an unmet need in Crohn’s disease (CD). Here we consider the patient outcomes and cost impact of pan-intestinal video capsule endoscopy (PVCE) in the English National Health Service (NHS).

Design

An analysis of a protocolized CD care pathway, informed by guidelines and expert consensus, was performed in Microsoft Excel. Population, efficacy and safety data of treatments and monitoring modalities were identified using a structured PubMed review with English data prioritized. Costs were taken from the NHS and Payer Provided Services (PSS) 2016–17 tariffs for England and otherwise literature. Analysis was via a discrete-individual simulation with discounting at 3.5% per annum.

Setting

NHS provider and PSS perspective

Participants

4000 simulated CD patients

Interventions

PVCE versus colonoscopy ± magnetic resonance enterography (MRE)

Main outcome measures

Costs in 2017 GBP and quality-adjusted life years (QALY)

Results

The mean, total 20-year cost per patient was £42 266 with colonoscopy ± MRE and £38 043 with PVCE. PVCE incurred higher costs during the first 2 years due to higher treatment uptake. From year 3 onwards, costs were reduced due to fewer surgeries. Patients accrued 10.67 QALY with colonoscopy ± MRE and 10.96 with PVCE. PVCE dominated (less cost and higher QALY) colonoscopy ± MRE and was likely (>74%) to be considered cost-effective by the NHS. Results were similar if a lifetime time horizon was used.

Conclusions

PVCE is likely to be a cost-effective alternative to colonoscopy ± MRE for CD surveillance. Switching to PVCE resulted in lower treatment costs and gave patients better quality of life.

Predictors for Small Bowel Stenosis in Balloon-Assisted Enteroscopy

BACKGROUND

Predictors besides symptoms of obstruction indicating small bowel stenosis are little known.

AIMS

To detect predictors of small bowel stenosis in balloon-assisted enteroscopy.

METHODS

Over a 6-year period, 461 patients had enteroscopy for suspected small intestinal disease. Details of clinical manifestations, medical history, demographic characteristics, findings of examinations, information on enteroscopy, and treatment were retrospectively collected based on medical records. Small bowel stenosis was defined as stricture that over-tube cannot go through in enteroscopy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors for small bowel stenosis.

RESULTS

A total of 314 patients had definite diagnosis after enteroscopy, imaging modalities, and/or even surgical exploration. They were included in this study for analyses. Mean age for them was 48.2 years old (range 15-81 years). Small bowel stenosis was present in 59 patients (18.8%). Analyses showed that CT/MRI indicating stenosis was significantly associated with severe stenosis (p = 0.014) but insignificant related to general stenosis (p = 0.097). Predictive factors that accompanied stenosis were age ≥ 60 years (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.0), underweight (BMI ≤ 18.5) (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.4-8.4), symptoms of obstruction (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.8-7.4), and overt small bowel bleeding (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-0.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Small bowel stenosis more tended to occur to patients with symptoms of obstruction, no overt small bowel bleeding, age ≥ 60 years, or underweight.

Capturing the Biologic Onset of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Impact on Translational and Clinical Science

While much progress has been made in the last two decades in the treatment and the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)-both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD)-as of today these conditions are still diagnosed only after they have become symptomatic. This is a major drawback since by then the inflammatory process has often already caused considerable damage and the disease might have become partially or totally unresponsive to medical therapy. Late diagnosis in IBD is due to the lack of accurate, non-invasive indicators that would allow disease identification during the pre-clinical stage-as it is often done in many other medical conditions. Here, we will discuss what is known about the biologic onset and pre-clinical CD with an emphasis on studies conducted in patients' first degree relatives. We will then review the possible strategies to diagnose IBD very early in time including screening, available disease markers and imaging, and the possible clinical implications of treating these conditions at or close to their biologic onset. Later, we will review the potential impact of conducting translational research in IBD during the pre-clinical stage, especially focusing on the role of the microbiome in disease etiology and pathogenesis. Finally, we will highlight possible future developments in the field and how they can impact IBD management and our scientific knowledge of these conditions.

Correlation of the endoscopic findings for small and large bowels in pediatric patients with established Crohn's disease

Small bowel capsule endoscopy can detect subtle mucosal lesions in pediatric patients with Crohn’s disease, and our aim was to evaluate its application in established ileocolonic Crohn’s disease. Colonic inflammation was evaluated with the colonic Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn’s Disease (SES-CD) (excluding the score of the terminal ileum). Small bowel inflammation was evaluated with the Lewis score and/or Capsule Endoscopy Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CECDAI). A Lewis score <135 was defined as small bowel inactive. A colonic SES-CD of 0 (colonic inactive group) was observed in 22/42 procedures (52.4%), and active small bowel lesions were observed in 11/22 procedures (50.0%). The Lewis score was lower in the colonic inactive group compared to the colonic active group. Correlations between the colonic SES-CD, the Lewis score and CECDAI were weak. The Lewis score and CECDAI in the colonic inactive group had significant correlation with fecal calprotectin levels. We suggest that Crohn’s disease patients without both colonic active lesions and elevation of fecal calprotectin levels may not need to receive small bowel capsule endoscopy due to low incidence of lesions in small bowel.

Colon capsule endoscopy for inflammatory bowel disease

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) is designed for direct visualization of the colonic mucosa through passive propulsion. The role of CCE in the detection of colonic polyps has been extensively evaluated. As mucosal healing has emerged as a pivotal target for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), there is increasing data to suggest that CCE can also be used in the monitoring of mucosal inflammation in patients with active IBD, particularly in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Despite advantages such as its non-invasive nature, patient's comfort, safety, and access to anatomical regions not easily reached by conventional endoscopy, CE has limitations including the lack of ability to obtain biopsies or therapeutic capabilities and no control over movement. In this review, the role and diagnostic value of CCE on diagnosis and monitoring of UC and CD patients, its safety and limitations are discussed.

ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Crohn's Disease in Adults

Crohn's disease is an idiopathic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology with genetic, immunologic, and environmental influences. The incidence of Crohn's disease has steadily increased over the past several decades. The diagnosis and treatment of patients with Crohn's disease has evolved since the last practice guideline was published. These guidelines represent the official practice recommendations of the American College of Gastroenterology and were developed under the auspices of the Practice Parameters Committee for the management of adult patients with Crohn's disease. These guidelines are established for clinical practice with the intent of suggesting preferable approaches to particular medical problems as established by interpretation and collation of scientifically valid research, derived from extensive review of published literature. When exercising clinical judgment, health-care providers should incorporate this guideline along with patient's needs, desires, and their values in order to fully and appropriately care for patients with Crohn's disease. This guideline is intended to be flexible, not necessarily indicating the only acceptable approach, and should be distinguished from standards of care that are inflexible and rarely violated. To evaluate the level of evidence and strength of recommendations, we used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The Committee reviews guidelines in depth, with participation from experienced clinicians and others in related fields. The final recommendations are based on the data available at the time of the production of the document and may be updated with pertinent scientific developments at a later time.

The small bowel diseases detected by capsule endoscopy in patients with chronic abdominal pain: A retrospective study

Chronic abdominal pain (CAP) remains a particular challenge because of its complicated causes, especially when the disorders involve the small bowel, where it is quite difficult to intubate the flexible endoscopes. This study was to investigate the small bowel diseases detected by capsule endoscopy (CE) in CAP patients to evaluate the role of CE on CAP, and analyzed the relationship among the clinical characteristics of CAP patients and the positive rates of CE findings to search for the indications of CE for CAP patients.This retrospective study included 341 patients with CAP defined as recurrent abdominal pain for no <3 months. Each patient underwent CE after a negative diagnostic work-up. All CE images were reviewed by 3 gastroenterologists independently. The positive findings were defined as abnormal findings in the small bowel that might have been the causes of CAP. The final diagnosis was confirmed by CE findings, clinical features, histopathology, and a response to the treatment during the follow-up for at least 3 months after CE.The overall positive rate of CE findings was 28.15% (96/341). The positive rate in CAP-A (CAP with associated symptoms) group was significantly higher than that in CAP-O (CAP only) group (33.16% vs 21.38%, P = .017). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that weight loss (odds ratio [OR] = 2.827, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.938-4.926), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 6.142, 95%IC = 4.129-8.274), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (OR = 4.025, 95%IC = 3.178-6.892), or increased C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR = 7.539, 95%CI = 5.365-11.723) were significantly associated with high positive rates. On follow-up, final diagnosis was confirmed in 56 of 69 (81.16%) patients with positive CE findings. About half of these patients (46.38%, 32/69) were diagnosed as inflammatory diseases, including Crohn disease (12), tuberculosis (5), NSAID enteropathy (4), etc. Tumors were proved in 21.74% (15/69) patients, including malignant in 7 cases and benign in 8 cases. Parasitosis was found in 9 (13.04%) patients.This study suggests that CE may be helpful for CAP patients to detect the small bowel diseases, half of which were comprised of inflammatory diseases. Besides, weight loss, hypoalbuminemia, elevated ESR, or increased CRP may be regarded as the indications of CE for CAP patients.

Unsuspected Small-Bowel Crohn's Disease in Elderly Patients Diagnosed by Video Capsule Endoscopy

Background

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is increasingly performed among the elderly for obscure bleeding. Our aim was to report on the utility of VCE to uncover unsuspected Crohn's disease (CD) in elderly patients.

Methods

Retrospective review of VCE performed in elderly patients (≥70 y) at a tertiary hospital (2010-2015). All underwent prior negative bidirectional endoscopies. CD diagnosis was based on consistent endoscopic findings, exclusion of other causes, and a Lewis endoscopic score (LS) > 790 (moderate-to-severe inflammation). Those with lower LS (350-790) required histological confirmation. Known IBD cases were excluded.

Results

197 VCE were performed (mean age 78; range 70-93). Main indications were iron deficiency anemia (IDA), occult GI bleeding (OGIB), chronic abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Eight (4.1%) were diagnosed as CD based on the aforementioned criteria. Fecal calprotectin (FCP) was elevated in 7/8 (mean 580 μg/g). Mean LS was 1824. Small-bowel CD detected by VCE led to a change in management in 4/8. One patient had capsule retention secondary to NSAID induced stricture, requiring surgical retrieval.

Conclusions

VCE can be safely performed in the elderly. A proportion of cases may have unsuspected small-bowel CD despite negative endoscopies. FCP was the best screening test. Diagnosis frequently changed management.

Practice patterns and clinical significance of use of capsule endoscopy in suspected and established Crohn's disease

Background/Aims

Although the role of capsule endoscopy (CE) in Crohn's disease (CD) has expanded, CE is not used routinely for diagnosing and evaluating CD in Korea. We aimed to investigate current patterns of practice and evaluate the clinical significance of the use of CE in CD in Korean patients.

Methods

Among 651 CE procedures performed for various indications, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent CE in 57 cases of suspected CD (sCD) and 14 cases of established CD (eCD).

Results

In the sCD group, CE was most commonly used for the initial diagnosis of CD (54.4%). Capsule retention was found in only 1 patient in the eCD group (1/71, 1.4%). In the sCD group, 28.1% of patients were diagnosed with CD on the basis of CE findings; other diseases diagnosed included tuberculous enteritis (7.0%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy (5.3%), and other enteritis (17.5%). Only 11.5% of patients with eCD (14/122) underwent CE. The indication for CE in the 14 patients with eCD was to assess disease extent and activity. The overall diagnostic yield of CE was 59.7%. Therapeutic strategies were changed in 70.2% of patients in the sCD group and 50% of those in the eCD group based on CE findings.

Conclusions

In clinical practice, CE was most commonly indicated for the initial diagnosis of CD and was not generally performed in patients with eCD. CE appears to be an effective diagnostic modality for evaluating sCD and is useful for determining therapeutic strategies for patients with sCD and those with eCD.

Diagnostic Yield and Clinical Impact of Video Capsule Endoscopy in Patients with Chronic Diarrhea: A Korean Multicenter CAPENTRY Study

Background/Aims

In some cases, chronic diarrhea is unexplained, and small bowel disorders may be one of the causes. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic yield and clinical impact of video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in patients with chronic diarrhea.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed records from October 2002 to August 2013 in the VCE nationwide database registry (n=2,964). Ninety-one patients from 15 medical centers (60 males and 31 females; mean age, 47±19 years) were evaluated for VCE as a result of chronic diarrhea.

Results

The duration of chronic diarrhea was 8.3±14.7 months. The positive diagnostic yield of VCE was 42.9% (39/91). However, 15.4% (14/91) exhibited an inconsistent result, and 41.8% (38/91) were negative. Abnormal findings consistent with chronic diarrhea included erosions/aphthous ulcers (19.8%), ulcers (17.6%), mucosal erythema (3.3%), edema (1.1%), and luminal narrowing (1.1%). The most common diagnoses were functional diarrhea associated with irritable bowel syndrome in 37 patients (40.7%) and Crohn's disease in 18 patients (19.8%). After VCE examination, the diagnosis was changed in 34.1% of the patients (31/91). Hematochezia (odds ratio [OR], 8.802; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.126 to 36.441) and hypoalbuminemia (OR, 4.811; 95% CI, 1.241 to 18.655) are predictive factors of a positive diagnostic yield.

Conclusions

VCE had a favorable diagnostic yield and clinical impact on the management of patients with chronic diarrhea.

Balloon-Assisted Enteroscopy and Capsule Endoscopy in Suspected Small Bowel Crohn's Disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases are idiopathic inflammatory diseases of two main types, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, and the distal ileum is involved in up to 70% of patients. Moreover, Crohn’s disease in one-quarter to one-third of patients involves isolation of the small bowel. Due to the nonspecific symptoms and anatomical location of the disease, small bowel Crohn’s disease is a phenotype that is particularly difficult to manage. Since the introduction of capsule endoscopy in 2000 and balloon-assisted enteroscopy in the 21st century, it is now possible to directly inspect for small bowel Crohn’s disease. However, the new modalities still have limitations, such as capsule retention and invasiveness of balloon-assisted enteroscopy. The diagnostic yields of both capsule endoscopy and balloon-assisted enteroscopy are high for patients with suspected small bowel Crohn’s disease. Therefore, earlier use of capsule endoscopy or balloon-assisted enteroscopy can help with the diagnosis and earlier treatment of these patients to avert possible disastrous outcomes.

Effectiveness of Capsule Endoscopy Compared with Other Diagnostic Modalities in Patients with Small Bowel Crohn's Disease: A Meta-Analysis

Background/Aims

As a result of the rapid development of medical diagnostic tools, physicians require concrete evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of the tools. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness and additional diagnostic benefits of capsule endoscopy (CE) in patients with small bowel Crohn’s disease (CD).

Methods

We performed a systematic search of databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, as well as eight domestic databases. Two reviewers independently screened all references. Diagnostic data from the studies were collected, and a meta-analysis was performed.

Results

Twenty-four studies were included. In cases of suspected CD, CE demonstrated a superior diagnostic yield compared with small bowel follow-through (SBFT) and enteroclysis (EC); however, there was no difference compared with computed tomography enterography or magnetic resonance enterography. In cases with established CD, CE demonstrated a higher diagnostic yield only compared with EC. In the detection of terminal ileum lesions, CE exhibited a significantly increased detection rate compared with ileoscopy.

Conclusions

The findings of our meta-analysis indicate that CE is superior to SBFT and EC in the evaluation of suspected CD cases. CE is also a more effective diagnostic modality in patients with established CD compared with EC.

Pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy in patients with postoperative Crohn's disease: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Patients are at increased risk of disease recurrence after surgical treatment of Crohn's disease. Endoscopic detection of postoperative, ileo-colonic inflammation is well established, but the potential of pan-intestinal endoscopy is yet unknown.

METHODS

This prospective multicenter pilot study assessed the value of pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy using a colon capsule endoscope for the detection of inflammatory recurrence of Crohn´s disease. Patients who had been operatively treated for Crohn´s disease were included. Colon capsule endoscopy was performed 4-8 weeks (d1) and 4-8 months (d2) postoperatively together with ileo-colonoscopy at d2 using a modified Ruttgeerts index for evaluating disease activity.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were included into this study. At d1, significant disease activity (Ruttgeerts index ≥2) was detected in 3/16 (19%) of the patients. At d2, half of the patients (6/12) showed active disease, whereas ileo-colonoscopy revealed significant inflammation in 5/15 (33%). All patients rated as having active disease by ileo-colonoscopy had been revealed by PICE as well. These findings influenced the medical treatment in every case.

CONCLUSION

Pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy seems to be feasible in the postoperative surveillance of Crohn's disease. Disease activity is reliably detected. Especially, the findings in the small bowl might be a significant advantage in comparison to ileo-colonoscopy, as they can have significant impact on clinical management. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed to confirm these findings and might lead to a replacement of the flexible ileo-colonoscopy with pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy in this indication in the future.

Quality Indicators for Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy

Capsule endoscopy (CE) enables evaluation of the entire mucosal surface of the small bowel (SB), which is one of the most important steps for evaluating obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Although the diagnostic yield of SB CE depends on many clinical factors, there are no reports on quality indicators. Thus, the Korean Gut Image Study Group (KGISG) publishes an article titled, “Quality Indicators for Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy” under approval from the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE). Herein, we initially identified process quality indicators, while the structural and outcome indicators are reserved until sufficient clinical data are accumulated. We believe that outcomes of SB CE can be improved by trying to meet our proposed quality indicators.

Capsule Endoscopy with Retention of the Capsule in a Duodenal Diverticulum: A Case Report

Capsule endoscopy is being increasingly recognized as a gold standard for diagnosing small bowel disease, but along with the increased usage, capsule retention is being reported more frequently. We report a case of capsule endoscopy retention in a diverticulum of the duodenal proximal third portion, which we treated by esophagogastroduodenoscopy. A 69-year-old male visited hospital with hematochezia. He had hypertension and dyslipidemia for several years, and was taking aspirin to prevent heart disease. CT and colonoscopy revealed a diverticulum in the third portion of the duodenum, rectal polyps, and internal hemorrhoids. Capsule endoscopy was performed but capsule impaction occurred. The capsule was later detected by CT in the diverticulum. Endoscopy was performed a day later and the capsule was removed using a net. A small bowel series was conducted after capsule removal, and no stenosis was found. The patient fully recovered and no recurrence of hematochezia was observed at his one month exam. This is the first case in Korea of capsule retention in a duodenal diverticulum, with successful removal by endoscopy.

Comparing diagnostic yield of a novel pan-enteric video capsule endoscope with ileocolonoscopy in patients with active Crohn's disease: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Crohn's disease (CD) is typically diagnosed with ileocolonoscopy (IC); however, when inflammation is localized solely in the small bowel, visualization of the entire small-bowel mucosa can be challenging. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield of a pan-enteric video capsule endoscope (small-bowel colon [SBC] capsule) versus IC in patients with active CD.

METHODS

This was a prospective, multicenter study. Patients with known active CD and proven bowel luminal patency underwent a standardized colon cleansing protocol followed by ingestion of the capsule. After passage of the capsule, IC was performed and recorded. Lesions indicative of active CD were assessed.

RESULTS

One hundred fourteen subjects were screened; 66 subjects completed both endoscopic procedures. The per-subject diagnostic yield rate for active CD lesions was 83.3% for SBC and 69.7% for IC (yield difference, 13.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6%-24.7%); 65% of subjects had active CD lesions identified by both modalities. Of the 12 subjects who were positive for active CD by SBC only, 5 subjects were found to have active CD lesions in the terminal ileum. Three subjects were positive for active CD by IC only. Three hundred fifty-five classifying bowel segments were analyzed; the per-segment diagnostic yield rate was 40.6% for SBC and 32.7% for IC (yield difference 7.9%; 95% CI, 3.3%-12.4%).

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study shows that the diagnostic yields for SBC might be higher than IC; however, the magnitude of difference between the two is difficult to estimate. Further study is needed to confirm these findings.

Preclinical and Undiagnosed Crohn's Disease: The Submerged Iceberg

Little is known on the natural history of Crohn's disease (CD) before diagnosis. By the time the patient is diagnosed, the disease has often produced considerable damage to the intestinal mucosa and sometimes other organs. Such period before diagnosis might involve both a silent and a symptomatic phase. The silent phase, or preclinical CD, might last several years after the biological disease onset. Evidence is accumulating that the symptomatic phase might also go undiagnosed for months or years. In fact, for each established case of CD, there are probably several undiagnosed cases, a classic iceberg phenomenon of disease. Such status quo--lagging behind diagnostic standards for many other diseases--effectively hampers efforts to block disease evolution and the development of complications. This is no longer tenable because CD is a debilitating, severe, and costly affection, whose incidence is rapidly rising worldwide. Here, we will review what is currently known on preclinical and undiagnosed CD and what could be done to improve accuracy and timeliness of diagnosis.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: mucosal healing is associated with improved long-term outcomes in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Clinical manifestations of Crohn's disease (CD) do not reliably correlate with endoscopic activity. While treating to achieve clinical remission (CR) has neither proven to improve CD outcomes nor alter the natural disease course, it is unclear whether targeting objective measures like mucosal healing (MH) is associated with improved long-term outcomes.

AIM

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing long-term outcomes in active CD patients who achieve MH compared to those who do not.

METHODS

We performed a systematic literature search to identify studies with prospective cohorts of active CD patients that included outcomes of patients who achieved MH at first endoscopic assessment (MH1) compared to those who did not. The primary outcome was long-term (≥50 weeks) CR. Secondary outcomes included CD-related surgery-free rate, hospitalisation-free rate and long-term MH rate. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

RESULTS

Twelve studies with 673 patients met inclusion criteria. Patients achieving MH1 had a pooled OR of 2.80 (95%CI, 1.91-4.10) for achieving long-term CR, 2.22 (95%CI, 0.86-5.69) for CD-related surgery-free rate, and 14.30 (95%CI, 5.57-36.74) for long-term MH. Sensitivity analyses suggested no difference in outcomes if MH1 was achieved on biologics vs. non-biologics. No significant publication bias or heterogeneity was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Achieving MH1 is associated with increased rates of long-term clinical remission, and maintenance of mucosal healing in active Crohn's disease and may therefore be a reasonable therapeutic target.

The Usefulness of Capsule Endoscopy for Small Bowel Tumors

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has expanded the range of endoscopic examination of the small bowel. The clinical application of VCE is mainly for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) and small bowel tumor is one of the clinically significant diagnoses of VCE, often requiring subsequent invasive interventions. Small bowel tumors are detected with a frequency of around 4% with VCE in indications of OGIB, iron deficiency anemia, unexplained abdominal pain, and others. Protruding mass with bleeding, mucosal disruption, irregular surface, discolored area, and white villi are suggested as the VCE findings of small bowel tumor. Device assisted enteroscopy (DAE), computed tomography enteroclysis/enterography and magnetic resonance enteroclysis/enterography also have clinical value in small bowel examination and tumor detection, and they can be used with VCE, sequentially or complementarily. Familial adenomatous polyposis, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, melanoma, lymphoma, and neuroendocrine tumor with hepatic metastasis are the high risk groups for small bowel tumors, and surveillance programs for small bowel tumors are needed. VCE and radiological imaging have value in screening, and in selected cases, DAE can provide more accurate diagnosis and endoscopic treatment. This review describes the usefulness and clinical impact of VCE on small bowel tumors.

Current status and future perspectives of capsule endoscopy

Small bowel capsule endoscopy (CE) was first introduced 15 years ago, and a large amount of literature has since been produced, focused on its indication, diagnostic yields, and safety. Guidelines that have made CE the primary diagnostic tool for small bowel disease have been created. Since its initial use in the small bowel, CE has been used for the esophagus, stomach, and colon. The primary indications for small bowel CE are obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, unexplained iron deficiency anemia, suspected Crohn's disease, small bowel tumors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug enteropathy, portal hypertensive enteropathy, celiac disease, etc. Colon CE provides an alternative to conventional colonoscopy, with possible use in colorectal cancer screening. Guidelines for optimal bowel preparation of CE have been suggested. The main challenges in CE are the development of new devices with the ability to provide therapy, air inflation for better visualization of the small bowel, biopsy sampling systems attached to the capsule, and the possibility of guiding and moving the capsule by an external motion controller. We review the current status and future directions of CE, and address all aspects of clinical practice, including the role of CE and long-term clinical outcomes.

Capsule Endoscopy for Crohn's Disease: Current Status of Diagnosis and Management

Crohn's disease (CD) is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease involving the small and/or large intestine. More than 50% of Western CD patients and up to 88% of Asian CD patients may have small intestinal involvement. Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has a higher diagnostic yield than small bowel barium radiography and computed tomography enterography for the detection of small intestinal involvement of CD. VCE also provides diagnostic yields comparable to magnetic resonance- (MR-) based enterography or enteroclysis and may have several advantages over MR-based tests for the detection of early small intestinal lesions. Several studies have suggested the use of VCE-based disease activity scoring systems to evaluate small intestinal mucosal disease activity, although their clinical relevance needs to be further studied. A possible indication for VCE is recurrence monitoring after complete surgical excision of CD-involved segments but its usefulness and efficacy compared with conventional endoscopy should be evaluated. The capsule retention rate ranges from 0 to 5.4% in suspected CD patients and from 0 to 13.2% in established CD patients. If VCE is necessary, significant small bowel stricture should be ruled out before VCE by performing a patency capsule study and/or small bowel radiological study in suspected or established CD patients.