Z-line examination by the PillCam™ SB: Prospective comparison of three ingestion protocols

Table 1 Baseline patient characteristics

	Group A (standing)	Group B (supine)	Group C (right supine)	P value
n	30	30	30	(-)
Age1 (yr)	58.6 ± 19.3	56.8 ± 19.1	51.8 ± 18.3	NS
Gender (M:F)2	14:16	16:14	17:13	NS
BMI1 (kg/m2)	25.6 ± 2.8	25.2 ± 2.8	25.6 ± 5.8	NS
Indication (%)2	OGIB 73.1	OGIB 60	OGIB 66.7	NS
Outpatient (%)2	63.2	70	80	NS

¹ANOVA test;

²Pearson-Fischer χ² test. OGIB: Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding; NS: Not significant.

Table 2 Capsule ingestion n (%)

	Group A (standing)	Group B (supine)	Group C (right supine)	P value
Easy1	29 (96.6)	28 (93.3)	28 (93.3)	NS
Difficult1	1 (3.3)	2 (6.6)	2 (6.6)	NS
Impossible1	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	NS

¹Pearson-Fischer χ² test.

Table 3 Capsule transit times (s)

	Group A (standing)	Group B (supine)	Group C (right supine)	P value
Median (IQR)	39 (24-55)	237 (80-474)	64 (40-108)	< 0.0011
	Standing vs supine	Standing vs right supine	Supine vs right supine
Transit times	P < 0.0012	P = 0.0242	P < 0.0012	(-)

¹Kruskal-Wallis test;

²Mann-Whitney test. IQR: Interquartile range.

Table 4 Z-line visualization

	Group A (standing)	Group B (supine)	Group C (right supine)	P value
%	4/30 (15.8%)	11/30 (37.3%)	27/30 (90%)	< 0.0011
Mean % Z-line	8.68 ± 22.96	25.16 ± 34.52	71.33 ± 33.47	< 0.0012
Mean frames	0.21 ± 0.53	3.23 ± 6.59	5.53 ± 7.55	0.0172
	Standing vs supine	Standing vs right supine	Supine vs right supine
% patients	P = 0.0273	P < 0.0013	P < 0.0013	(-)
Mean % Z-line	NS4	P < 0.0014	P < 0.0014	(-)
Mean frames	NS4	P = 0.0024	NS4	(-)

¹Pearson-Fischer χ² test;

²ANOVA test;

³Pearson-Fischer χ² test;

⁴Tamhane test (post-hoc comparisons).