The Antro-pyloric Capsular Movement by Capsule Endoscopy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Capsule endoscopy (CE) is used for various purposes. The aims of this study were to classify the types of antro-pyloric capsular movement in CE and to investigate the relationship between the types of capsular movement and clinical factors, including gastric emptying time (GET).

METHODS

Out of 103 patients who received CE between January 2004 and July 2006, 82 patients (33 female, mean age of 50.6 years) were retrospectively analyzed for capsular movement; 21 patients were excluded because of the history of medications and previous surgeries. CE images were interpreted by a single investigator in relation to the GET and types of antro-pyloric capsular movement.

RESULTS

Antro-pyloric capsular movement was classified into four patterns: type 1, large longitudinal to-and-fro movements in the antrum followed by passage through the pylorus without resistance; type 2, after large longitudinal to-and-fro movements, passage through the pylorus with resistance (> 1 minute); type 3, mixed pattern of type 1 and 4; type 4, weak movement. Median GET by CE were 14.1 minutes (range, 1.2-50.1), 21.7 minutes (6.2-154.9), 57.3 minutes (14.9-249.8), and 58.8 minutes (21.0-249.5) for type 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. GET in type 1 and 2 were significantly shorter than that in type 3 and 4 (p < 0.05). Ten diabetic patients presented with type 2 (n = 5), 3 (n = 3), and 4 (n = 2) patterns, but not with type 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest the analysis of capsule movement using CE to be a possible method of evaluating the antro-pyloric movement.