Age and video capsule endoscopy in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: a prospective study on hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND

The influence of aging on video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) has never been prospectively assessed.

AIMS

To demonstrate if age is a risk factor for incomplete VCE examination in a setting of ongoing hospitalization for OGIB and if it affects the yield of VCE.

METHODS

Forty-eight consecutive patients referred to our unit for obscure-overt GI bleeding from March 2007 to September 2009 were prospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age: ≤65 years (group A) and >65 years (group B). The VCE completion rate and clinically significant findings were studied.

RESULTS

The cecum was reached in 73% of patients. There was no difference between the two groups of patients in the VCE completion rate (78% vs. 68%, P=0.4). The overall diagnostic yield was 61%. A significant difference in the diagnostic yield between group A and group B (45% vs. 75%, P=0.04) was shown. Angiodysplasia was diagnosed in 13 out of 24 (54%) patients of group B, whereas mucosal breaks, such as erosions or ulcers, accounted for over a quarter of the group A findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Old age is not a risk factor for incomplete VCE examination and it is associated with increased VCE yield.