Introduction:

The small intestine is a difficult organ to study due to its large size and anatomical location. Conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy cannot evaluate the entirety of the small intestine and balloon enteroscopy is more invasive, has more adverse effects, and has higher complication rates. Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a minimally invasive technology that allows a dynamic and complete view of the mucosa of the small intestine. It is the safest direct method which has the lowest complication rates.

Methodology:

This is a cross-sectional descriptive observational study that describes clinical experience in the use of VCE at a highly complex hospital in Medellin, Colombia. It also describes the indications for VCE, and the most common symptoms and abnormal findings.

Results:

VCE was used to study 282 outpatients (75.4%) and 92 hospitalized patients (24.6%) during the study period. In both groups, the most frequent indication was obscure digestive bleeding (38.65% and 53.26% respectively), followed by chronic anemia in 27.65% of outpatients, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in 21.74% of hospitalized patients. Abnormal findings were more frequent in the jejunum, and the most common lesions were angiodysplasias and inflammatory lesions.

Conclusions:

Potential sources of bleeding were documented in more than 70% of the cases of the most frequent indications which were obscure digestive bleeding and anemia. Vascular and inflammatory lesions were the most common findings. In follow-up evaluation of IBD, inflammatory lesions were documented in more than 50% of the cases. VCE is very safe, and there were no complications related to the VCE.

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