Prospective, randomized comparison of two small-bowel capsule endoscopy systems in patients with obscure GI bleeding

Background Video capsule endoscopy is the first-intention examination in patients with obscure GI bleeding. The new MiroCam capsule, when using electric-field propagation for transmission, has been poorly evaluated in a clinical setting, in contrast with the PillCam SB2 capsule. Objective To evaluate the diagnostic concordance (κ value) between PillCam SB2 and MiroCam capsule examinations performed in the same patients. Design and Setting Prospective, randomized study in 7 endoscopy units. Patients and Intervention Eighty-three consecutive patients, ingesting the 2 capsules at a 1-hour interval. Results Seventy-three patients were analyzed (10 technical issues). There were 31 concordant negative cases (42.4%) and 30 concordant positive cases (41.1%). The study showed satisfactory diagnostic concordance between the 2 systems (κ = 0.66). In 12 patients (16.4%), the final diagnosis was different: 9 patients had positive findings on MiroCam examination but no image detected with PillCam SB2, 2 had positive findings on PillCam examination only, and 1 patient had 2 different diagnoses. A positive diagnosis was obtained in 46.6% and 56.2% of patients with PillCam SB2 and MiroCam capsule, respectively, so that the procedures identified 78.6% and 95.2% of positive cases, respectively ( P = .02). Small-bowel transit time and capsule reading time were significantly longer in MiroCam procedures. Limitations Technical failures possibly related to capsule interference. Conclusion This study shows at least comparable efficiency of the MiroCam compared with the PillCam SB2 capsule system for the diagnosis of obscure GI bleeding.