Diagnostic utility of wireless motility capsule in gastrointestinal dysmotility

Abstract

Goals: To examine the diagnostic utility of wireless motility capsule (WMC) in patients with suspected gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility.

Background: Subjects with suspected GI motility disorders undergo invasive and expensive diagnostic tests. In these patients, whether WMC provides clinically useful information is unknown.

Study: Patients with symptoms of dysmotility and normal endoscopic/radiologic evaluations were assessed with WMC test and conventional motility tests (CMT). Diagnostic utility of WMC was assessed retrospectively by examining device agreement and new information compared with CMT.

Results: On the basis of predominant symptom(s), 86 patients were classified into 2 subgroups: lower GI (LGI=50) and upper GI (UGI=36). Clinical suspicion was confirmed in 52% and 66% of patients, respectively, and there was good device agreement between WMC and CMT in 76% and 81% in the LGI and UGI groups, respectively. There was new diagnostic information with the WMC test in 53% of the LGI (P=0.006) and 47% of the UGI group (P=0.001). WMC detected generalized motility disorder in 44 (51%) patients and influenced management in 30% of LGI and 50% of UGI subjects.

Conclusions: WMC confirmed clinical suspicion, provided new diagnostic information, influenced clinical management, and detected many patients with generalized motility disorder. It had good device agreement with conventional tests.