[Is screening of wireless capsule endoscopies by non-physicians feasible?].

INTRODUCTION

Reading a wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) may be time-consuming. In order to reduce the time needed by a physician to view a WCE, we investigated if other medical professions could preview the video and detect bowel pathology in advance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A specialist in gastroenterology and two laboratory technicians independently viewed 34 consecutive WCEs and noted all findings. Thereafter, two specialists reviewed the findings made by the technicians independently in order to make a diagnosis. The results were compared with the diagnosis made by the first specialist, who viewed the entire WCE himself.

RESULTS

The reviewing specialists were able to make a correct diagnosis based on the technicians' findings in 97% and 85% of the patients, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study indicates that it is safe and timesaving to use other medical professions than physicians to preview WCEs.