Editorial
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2008; 14(9): 1313-1317
Published online Mar 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.1313
Efficiency of bowel preparation for capsule endoscopy examination: A meta-analysis
Yaron Niv
Yaron Niv, Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Petach Tikva 49100, Israel
Author contributions: Niv Y designed research, analyzed data and wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Yaron Niv, Department of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, 100 Jabotinski Street, Petach Tikva 49100, Israel. yniv@clalit.org.il
Telephone: +972-3-9377237
Fax: +972-3-9210313
Received: January 4, 2008
Revised: January 29, 2008
Published online: March 7, 2008
Abstract

Good preparation before endoscopic procedures is essential for successful visualization. The small bowel is difficult to evaluate because of its length and complex configuration. A meta-analysis was conducted of studies comparing small bowel visualization by capsule endoscopy with and without preparation. Medical data bases were searched for all studies investigating the preparation for capsule endoscopy of the small bowel up to July 31, 2007. Studies that scored bowel cleanness and measured gastric and small bowel transit time and rate of cecum visualization were included. The primary endpoint was the quality of bowel visualization. The secondary endpoints were transit times and proportion of examinations that demonstrated the cecum, with and without preparation. Meta-analysis was performed with StatDirect Statistical software, version 2.6.1 (http://statsdirect.com). Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Bowel visualization was scored as “good” in 78% of the examinations performed with preparation and 49% performed without (P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in transit times or in the proportion of examinations that demonstrated the cecum with and without preparation. Capsule endoscopy preparation improves the quality of small bowel visualization, but has no effect on transit times, or demonstration of the cecum.

Keywords: Capsule endoscopy; Bowel preparation; Transit time