![]() | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract To day, Capsule endoscopy is considered the most recent technique for evaluation of gastro-intestinal-tract diseases. Since producing the world’s first gastrocamera in 1950, many companies have achieved several milestones in field of endoscopy. Over fifty years of endoscopic imaging experience have gone into the wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE).Gastrologists can now enjoy the operational ease and efficiency of capsule endoscopy for minimally invasive observation of gastro-intestinal-tract diseases. There are different types of capsules for specific anatomical regions of the GI tract. In addition to the small-bowel video capsules, innovative capsules with 2 video camera heads were developed. One such capsule, which was introduced in 2005, is for examination of the esophagus and another one was recently introduced for the colon. This latter capsule underwent clinical trials in Europe and the United States, where it is compared with routine colonoscopy. A capsule system comprises 4 primary components: (1) an ingestible video capsule, (2) a recording device, (3) a workstation, with (4) physician review/reporting software. The capsule as a single-use device is not recovered for reuse. Hence, the images it captures are transmitted immediately to an external recorder worn by the patient. This recording device is designed to be compact, easily used and handled, and remains with the patient as part of an ambulatory examination throughout the day. The images received and stored by the recording device are transferred, after the examination, to the workstation, which has software that supports the recorder, transfers its data to local memory, compiles data into a video, and review/reporting functions for the physician. The view of the mucosa that the capsule records provides the information that had been missing from previous tests and makes it possible for the physician to make a diagnosis. Capsule endoscopy has identified diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that includes: 1) Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal varices. 2)Small bowel tumors. Small bowel polyps and familial polyposis syndrome. 3) Injury from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Celiac disease. 4) The assessment of abdominal pain. 5) Crohn’s disease (should not be used in cases of stricture) and Ulcers or ulcerations. 6) The most important use of capsule endoscopy is obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. |