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Capsule endoscopy

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Author's objectives

The aim of this report was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of capsule endoscopy (CE) as compared to other diagnostic modalities on different potential indications such as obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB), Crohn's disease (CD), intestinal polyposis and Celiac disease.

Author's conclusions

CE is recommended in patients with OGIB (when a previous ileocolonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy were negative). The most important risk related to CE is capsule retention necessitating unintended surgical or endoscopic removal. Patients should be informed on this risk prior to CE. For reasons of volume and quality, the implementation of CE in Belgium should be limited to a few centres only. The expected maximum budget for CE in Belgium for OGIB is estimated at 600,000 Euro after 5 years.

At present, the available evidence is not of sufficient quantity and quality to determine the relative diagnostic performance of CE compared with alternative conventional diagnostic tests in diagnosing patients with CD, intestinal polyposis and Celiac disease. No conclusions can be made as to whether CE is an effective alternative to other tests.

Further research is warranted to determine the place of CE in the management algorithm of OGIB and on other potential indications for CE such as CD, intestinal polyposis and celiac disease.

Bibliographic details

Poelmans J, Hulstaert F, Huybrechts M, Ramaekers D. Capsule endoscopy. Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE), 2006; KCE Reports vol. 25A. Ref. D/2006/10.273/01.

URL of original report

http://www.kce.fgov.be

Status

The HTA database is produced by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), York and the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA), Sweden. The HTA database contains information on publications and projects from nationally funded health technology assessment organisations. The abstracts in this database are descriptive only, and the original reports have not been evaluated by reviewers from the CRD

• Publication Date: 23 Jan 2006
• Publication Type: Review
• Source: CRD Health Technology Assessment Database
• Creator:
  Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre (KCE)