Detachable string magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy for the noninvasive diagnosis of esophageal diseases:A prospective,blind clinical study

BACKGROUND Traditional esophagogastroduodenoscopy(EGD),an invasive examination method,can cause discomfort and pain in patients.In contrast,magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy(MCE),a noninvasive method,is being applied for the detection of stomach and small intestinal diseases,but its application in treating esophageal diseases is not widespread.AIM To evaluate the safety and efficacy of detachable string MCE(ds-MCE)for the diagnosis of esophageal diseases.METHODS Fifty patients who had been diagnosed with esophageal diseases were pros-pectively recruited for this clinical study and underwent ds-MCE and conven-tional EGD.The primary endpoints included the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for patients with esophageal diseases.The secondary endpoints consisted of visualizing the esophageal and dentate lines,as well as the subjects'tolerance of the procedure.RESULTS Using EGD as the gold standard,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,and diagnostic accuracy of ds-MCE for esophageal disease detection were 85.71%,86.21%,81.82%,89.29%,and 86%,respectively.ds-MCE was more comfortable and convenient than EGD was,with 80%of patients feeling that ds-MCE examination was very comfortable or comfortable and 50%of patients believing that detachable string v examination was very convenient.CONCLUSION This study revealed that ds-MCE has the same diagnostic effects as traditional EGD for esophageal diseases and is more comfortable and convenient than EGD,providing a novel noninvasive method for treating esophageal diseases.

Capsule endoscopy and panendoscopy:A journey to the future of gastrointestinal endoscopy

In 2000,the small bowel capsule revolutionized the management of patients with small bowel disorders.Currently,the technological development achieved by the new models of double-headed endoscopic capsules,as miniaturized devices to evaluate the small bowel and colon[pan-intestinal capsule endoscopy(PCE)],makes this non-invasive procedure a disruptive concept for the management of patients with digestive disorders.This technology is expected to identify which patients will require conventional invasive endoscopic procedures(colonoscopy or balloon-assisted enteroscopy),based on the lesions detected by the capsule,i.e.,those with an indication for biopsies or endoscopic treatment.The use of PCE in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases,namely Crohn’s disease,as well as in patients with iron deficiency anaemia and/or overt gastrointestinal(GI)bleeding,after a non-diagnostic upper endoscopy(esophagogastroduodenoscopy),enables an effective,safe and comfortable way to identify patients with relevant lesions,who should undergo subsequent invasive endoscopic procedures.The recent development of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy to evaluate the upper GI tract,is a further step towards the possibility of an entirely non-invasive assessment of all the segments of the digestive tract,from mouth-to-anus,meeting the expectations of the early developers of capsule endoscopy.

Effect of Weikang Capsule(胃康胶囊)on Aspirin-Related Gastric and Small Intestinal Mucosal Injury

Objective To investigate the effects of Weikang Capsule(胃康胶囊,WKC)on aspirin-related gastric and small intestinal mucosal injury by magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy(MCCE).Methods Patients taking enteric-coated aspirin aged 40-75 years were enrolled in Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University from January 2019 to December 2019.The patients continued taking aspirin Tablet(100 mg per day)and underwent MCCE before and after 1-month combined treatment with WKC(0.9 g per time orally,3 times per day).The gastrointestinal symptom score,gastric Lanza score,the duodenal,jejunal and ileal mucosal injury scores were used to evaluate the gastrointestinal injury before and after treatment.Adverse events including nausea,vomiting,abdominal pain,abdominal distension,abdominal discomfort,dizziness,or headache during MCCE and combined treatment were observed and recorded.Results Twenty-two patients(male/female,13/9)taking enteric-coated aspirin aged 59.5±11.3 years with a duration of aspirin use of 28.0(1.0,48.0)months were recruited.Compared with pre-treatment,the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale scores,gastric Lanza scores,and duodenal mucosal injury scores were significantly reduced after 1-month WKC treatment(P<0.05),and jejunal and ileal mucosal injury scores showed no obvious change.No adverse events occurred during the trial.Conclusions WKC can alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms,as well as gastric and duodenal mucosal injuries,in patients taking enteric-coated aspirin;it does not aggravate jejunal or ileal mucosal injury,which may be an effective alternative for these patients(Clinical trial registry No.ChiCTR1900025451).