Accuracy of community based video capsule endoscopy in patients undergoing follow up double balloon enteroscopy

Core Tip

Core tip: Advances in endoscopic technology have revolutionized the evaluation of small intestinal disorders. Non-invasive imaging utilizing video capsule endoscopy (VCE) offers the potential to safely visualize the entire small bowel with a high diagnostic yield. It is limited by a lack of therapeutic ability, imprecise localization, failure to reach the colon in all cases and inconsistent visualization of the entire small bowel. Deep enteroscopy, utilizing double balloon enteroscopy (DBE), enables diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy of the small bowel. Although total enteroscopy can be accomplished, it typically requires antegrade and retrograde approaches. In most clinical situations, VCE is performed initially. By using DBE as the criterion (gold) standard, the sensitivity and specificity of community based VCE can be assessed for individual lesions, offering a more informative comparison than diagnostic yield.