Direct visualization of drug behaviors in the upper GI tract via magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy.

Background And Aims: Actual behaviors of drugs in the upper GI tract are not well elucidated. We assess the feasibility of magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE) in direct and real-time visualization of oral drug behaviors in the stomach.

Methods: From November 2019 to December 2019, 9 patients with a recent history of upper GI symptoms and 10 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Participants swallowed magnetically controlled capsules to examine the whole stomach. After baseline examination, participants ingested dyed sucralfate gel, and MCE recorded the adhesion time, retention time, and distribution area of sucralfate gel. Outcomes included behaviors of sucralfate gel, safety, and satisfaction assessment of the procedures.

Results: Adhesion time of sucralfate gel in the abdominal symptoms group was significantly shorter than in the healthy control group (23.76 ± 1.37 minutes vs 31.96 ± 3.09 minutes;  = .032), whereas retention time was longer (98.85 ± 13.94 minutes vs 63.93 ± 8.57 minutes;  = .043). The distribution area of sucralfate gel in the abdominal symptoms group was significantly larger than in healthy control group in cardia (24.29 ± 7.39 vs 9.18 ± 4.06;  < .0001), fundus (18.90 ± 7.08 vs 8.49 ± 4.10;  = .0015), and pylorus (4.64 ± 2.72 vs 0.94 ± 0.90;  = .0019). No adverse events were observed. All participants had a high degree of satisfaction.

Conclusions: MCE is a feasible and noninvasive tool for direct and real-time visualization of drug behaviors (eg, sucralfate gel) in the stomach. (ClinicalTrials.gov. ID: NCT04327869.).