Diagnostic yield of small bowel capsule endoscopy depends on the small bowel transit time

AIM:To investigate whether the small bowel transit time(SBTT)influences the diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy(CE).METHODS:Six hundred and ninety-one consecutive CE procedures collected in a database were analyzed.SBTT and CE findings were recorded.A running mean for the SBTT was calculated and correlated to the diagnostic yield with a Spearman’s correlation test.Subgroup analyses were performed for the various indications for the procedure.RESULTS:There was a positive correlation between the diagnostic yield and SBTT(Spearman’s rho 0.58,P <0.01).Positive correlations between diagnostic yield and SBTT were found for the indication obscure gastrointestinal bleeding(r=0.54,P<0.01),for polyposis and carcinoid combined(r=0.56,P<0.01)and for the other indications(r=0.90,P<0.01),but not for suspected Crohn’s disease(r=-0.40).CONCLUSION:The diagnostic yield in small bowel capsule endoscopy is positively correlated with the small bowel transit time.This is true for all indications except for suspected Crohn’s disease.