Role of colon capsule Pillcam 2 in obscure gastrointestinal bleeding - case report

• Published in: Journal of medicine and life Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 287 - 289
• Main Authors: Babiuc, R D, Purcarea, M, Sadagurschi, R, Negreanu, L, Nastasescu, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Romania Carol Daila University Foundation 15-09-2013; Carol Davila University Press
• Subjects: Capsule Endoscopes; Case Presentation; Colon - pathology; Colonic Neoplasms - diagnosis; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; Female; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - diagnosis; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - pathology; Humans; Middle Aged; colon cancer; obscure gastrointestinal bleeding; videocapsule endoscopy
• ISSN: 1844-122X; 1844-3117

The diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal bleeding have always been a challenge to clinicians. In most patients, the source of bleeding is easily identified during conventional upper and/or lower gastrointestinal endoscopies. A significant progress in the evaluation of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding was brought by the advent of capsule endoscopy. Since colonoscopy is not always technically feasible, colon VCE might be useful where the conventional procedure poses substantial risks to patients or it is refused by them.
We present the case of a 58-year-old patient, with severe anemia caused by bleeding from a gastrointestinal source. The patient was diabetic, hypertensive and with impaired heart function, aggravated by anemia. We used the Pillcam Colon 2 capsule to investigate the colon and we found 2 tumors in the cecum and transverse colon.
Pillcam Colon 2 capsule turned out to be an additional patient-friendly method to complement colonoscopy for colon visualization and colorectal cancer screening.