A mini-sized MCE highlighted with a diameter of 9.5mm, a length of 24.5mm, and a weight of 3.0g has been developed. This new type of MCE is approximately 0.6 times the conventional MCE (27mm\*11.8mm) in volume and weight, and it is the smallest CE among all the reported capsules. Thus, this pilot study was conducted to clarify whether the mini-sized MCE can further optimize the process of swallowing the capsule and to verify whether the smaller size of the capsule will have influence on the examination procedure of the upper gastrointestinal tract and small intestine.
Magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE), with equally favorable diagnostic accuracy as conventional endoscopy, has become a painless noninvasive diagnostic modality in clinical practice. The more than 8 hours battery life of the MCE enables a further examination of the small bowel. In addition, it has been demonstrated that magnetic steering of capsule endoscopy improves the completion rate of small bowel examination by facilitating passage of the capsule through the pylorus, which further supported MCE as a practical modality for examination of both the stomach and small bowel. Previous studies have confirmed the great safety and efficacy of MCE for examination of patients with high-risk factors for standard gastroscopy, those long-time taking aspirin, aging patients and children. However, this technique still has some limitations in clinical practice. Due to the large size of the capsule, some patients may be difficult to swallow the capsule, especially in children. A clinical trial reported that a certain number of children with ages ranging from 6 to 14 years fail to swallow the MCE by themselves for its big size (27mm\*11.8mm). During the examination procedure of small bowel capsule endoscopy, measuring 26\*11mm, in those under 10 years old of age, up to 87% of patients are unable to swallow the capsule. In adolescents, it is reported that more than one-third of patients have difficulties with swallowing standard size tablets. In addition, serious complications, such as aspiration of the capsule, often occur in the elderly who need more efforts to swallow the capsule. For those at any age unable or unwilling to swallow a capsule, endoscopic placement is required to deliver the capsule to the stomach or directly the duodenum. However, this procedure greatly increases patient's discomfort, examination costs and increase the risk associated with the endoscopic procedure, anesthesia. Thus, it is of great importance to make the capsule endoscopy easier to swallow in both children and adolescents. Therefore, a mini-sized MCE highlighted with a diameter of 9.5mm, a length of 24.5mm, and a weight of 3.0g has been developed. This new type of MCE is approximately 0.6 times the conventional MCE (27mm\*11.8mm) in volume and weight, and it is the smallest CE among all the reported capsules. Thus, this pilot study was conducted to clarify whether the mini-sized MCE can further optimize the process of swallowing the capsule and to verify whether the smaller size of the capsule will have influence on the examination procedure of the upper gastrointestinal tract and small intestine.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
96
Enrolled participants were randomly allocated into the normal-sized MCE group or mini-sized MCE group in a 1:1 ratio.
Enrolled participants were randomly allocated into the normal-sized MCE group or mini-sized MCE group in a 1:1 ratio.
Changhai Hospital
Shanghai, China
the difficulty score for swallowing the capsule
The primary outcome was the difficulty score for swallowing the capsule, which was assessed on a visual analog scale ranging from 0 (very easy with no nausea) to 10 (very difficult or with severe nausea)
Time frame: 6 months
the time required to swallow the capsule
The capsule swallowing time was defined as the time between the first mouth image and the first esophageal image.
Time frame: 6 months
the success rate for swallowing the capsule at the first attempt
If the patient swallowed the capsule directly with a sip of water at the first attempt, it was defined as a success for swallowing the capsule at the first attempt; if the capsule entered the esophagus after several swallowing attempts or with endoscopic placement, it was defined as a failure.
Time frame: 6 months
the number of images captured for Z-line and quadrants of the Z-line
Visualization of the esophagus indicated by the number of images captured for Z-line and how many quadrants of the Z-line were observed.
Time frame: 6 months
Visualization score of the gastric mucosa
To objectively evaluate the complete visualization of the gastric mucosa in the 6 anatomic landmarks (cardia, fundus, body, angulus, antrum, and pylorus), a 3-point grading scale was used: 1, poor (\<70% of the mucosa was observed), 2, fair (70%-90% of the mucosa was observed), and 3, good (\>90% of the mucosa was observed).
Time frame: 6 months
Visualization of the small bowel
Visualization of the small bowel was determined by the small bowel complete examination rate.
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Time frame: 6 months
Difficulty score of swallowing the capsule
To evaluate the difficulty score of swallowing the capsule. After the examination, the patient was asked to complete a questionnaire. A visual analogue scale ranging from 0 (easy with no nausea) to 10 (very difficult or with sever nausea) was used to evaluate the degree of difficulty of swallowing the capsule.
Time frame: 1 month
Gastrointestinal transit time
Examination-related parameters included esophageal transit time (ETT), gastric examination time (GET), gastric transit time (GTT), pylorus transit time (PTT), small bowel transit time (SBTT). ETT is defined as the time between the first esophageal image and the first gastric image. GTT is defined as the time between the first gastric image and the first duodenal image. GET is defined as the time for examination of gastric primary anatomic landmarks twice. PTT is defined as the time between the first pyloric image and the first duodenal image. SBTT is defined as the time between the first duodenal image and the first cecal image.
Time frame: 1 month
Detection rate of lesions
The detection rate of lesions in different digestive part (esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine) found by mini-sized MCE and normal-sized MCE.
Time frame: 1 month
Safety of mini-sized MCE procedure:presence of any adverse events during mini-sized MCE procedure will be recorded
presence of any adverse events during mini-sized MCE procedure will be recorded
Time frame: 1 month