Suture marker lesion detection in the colon by self-stabilizing and unmodified capsule endoscopes: pilot study in acute canine models.

Background: Capsule endoscopy is a noninvasive method for examining the small intestine. Recently, this method has been used to visualize the colon. However, the capsule often tumbles in the wider colon lumen, resulting in potentially missed pathology. In addition, the capsule does not have the ability to distend collapsed segments of the organ. Self-stabilizing capsule endoscopy is a new method of visualizing the colon without tumbling and with the ability to passively distend colon walls.

Objective: To quantitatively compare the detection rate of intraluminal suture marker lesions for colonoscopy by using a custom-modified, self-stabilizing capsule endoscope (SCE); an unmodified capsule endoscope (CE) of the same brand; and a standard colonoscope.

Design: Four mongrel dogs underwent laparotomy and the implantation of 5 to 8 suture markers to approximate colon lesions. Each dog had both capsule endoscopy and self-stabilizing capsule endoscopy, administered consecutively in random order. In each case, the capsule was inserted endoscopically into the proximal lumen of the colon followed by pharmacologically induced colon peristalsis to propel it distally through the colon. Blinded standard colonoscopy was performed by an experienced gastroenterologist after the capsule endoscopies.

Setting: Experimental study in a live canine model.

Subjects: Four dogs.

Intervention: Laparotomy, capsule endoscopy, colonoscopy.

Main Outcome Measurements: Comparison of the marker detection rate of the SCE to that of the unmodified MiroCam CE and a colonoscope.

Results: The average percentages of the marker detection rate for unmodified capsule endoscopy, self-stabilizing capsule endoscopy, and colonoscopy, respectively, were 31.1%, 86%, and 100% (P < .01), with both self-stabilizing capsule endoscopy and colonoscopy performing significantly better than the unmodified capsule endoscopy.

Limitations: Acute canine model, suture markings poorly representative of epithelial polyps, limited number of animals.

Conclusion: The proposed self-stabilizing capsule endoscope delivered a significant improvement in detection rates of colon suture markings when compared with the unmodified capsule endoscope.