Real-Time Viewing of Capsule Endoscopy Recordings: Principle and Clinical Potential

The direct viewing of images captured by capsule endoscopy has been recently made available and should in the near future increase the clinical value of the procedure. The system includes a portable computer with a dedicated software, that is connected to the hard disk used to record and store the images created by the capsule. When the connection is obtained with the capsule, the emitted images are viewed on the screen and can be stored. Potential clinical applications include the monitoring capsule progression along the gut in patients with suspected motility disorders. Other potential uses of this technique include verifying the capsule entry into the caecum and determining the anatomical location of the bleeding source without awaiting the end of the 8-hour recording.

Keywords: capsule endoscopy, direct viewing, gastroparesis, digestive bleeding