Diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy in a tertiary hospital in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Capsule endoscopy is applicable to several clinical conditions, but obscure gastrointestinal bleeding remains the main indication. This study aims at determining the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding using a structured terminology in a large cohort in an academic hospital. METHODS In this retrospective study, 592 capsule endoscopy procedures performed in a tertiary hospital were analysed using the Capsule Endoscopy Structural Terminology. Main indications were gastrointestinal bleeding (n=142) and iron deficiency anaemia (n=240). RESULTS Capsule endoscopy identified abnormalities in 44% of patients with iron deficiency anaemia and in 58% of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, resulting in a diagnostic yield of 49% for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. In 32 patients the cause was found in the stomach and in 8 in the colon. CONCLUSION Capsule endoscopy evidenced a diagnostic yield of 49% for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Repeating endoscopy before capsule endoscopy should be considered since a reasonable proportion of lesions were found outside the small intestine.