Clinical Gastroenterology Vol.22 No.3(4)

Theme Update of Endoscopy for Small Intestine
Title Capsule Endoscopy -- Systems and Procedures
Publish Date 2007/03
Author Motohiro Esaki Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University
Author Takayuki Matsumoto Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University
Author Mitsuo Iida Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University
[ Summary ] Due to advances in miniaturization technology, the wireless capsule endoscope has been developed for the examination of small intestinal pathology. The swallowed capsule automatically takes two frames per second for about 8 hours, during which the capsule passes through the gastrointestinal tract due to peristalsis. In contrast to previously developed, wired endoscopy, capsule endoscopy enables total enteroscopy noninvasively.
In Western countries, capsule endoscopy has already been applied to over 260, 000 patients since the approval by the FDA and CE-Marking in 2001. Based on the experience, capsule endoscopy has been regarded as the first choice for examination of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. In Japan, capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy are seen as complementary procedures for the diagnosis of small intestinal pathology.
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