Effect of oral erythromycin on gastric and small bowel transit time of capsule endoscopy

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients

	Erythromycin (n = 24)	Control (n = 14)
Mean age±SD (yr)	62.7±17.8	56.3±18.6
Male (%)	9 (37.5)	8 (57.1)
Mean body mass index (±SD)	22.9±3.8	22.3±3.2
Diabetes mellitus (%)	7 (29.2)	3 (21.4)
Indication
Iron deficiency anemia (%)	6 (25)	5 (36)
Obscure gastro-intestinal bleeding (%)	12 (50)	8 (57)
Recurrent abdominal pain (%)	5 (21)	1 (7)
Crohn’s disease (%)	1 (4)	0 (0)

Table 2 Gastric and small bowel transit of capsule endoscopy in two groups of patients (mean±SD)

	Erythromycin (n = 24)	Control (n = 14)	P
Gastric transit time (min)	15.8±16.8	70.3±88.1	0.005
Small bowel transit time (min)	226.5±84.0	183.0±91.2	0.18
Incomplete small bowel examination (%)	1 (4)	3 (21)	0.13
Image quality (%)
Satisfactory	13 (54)	9 (64)	0.74
Unsatisfactory	11 (46)	5 (36)