Small bowel perforation following capsule endoscopy: a case report

Abstract

Small bowel perforation following a capsule endoscopy (CE) is a rare but dreadful complication. We report a CE induced small bowel perforation in a patient with Crohn's disease where preoperative investigations failed to reveal any strictures. 2011; 93: e69-e70 Ann R Coll Surg Engl

Report of video-capsule endoscopy disruption producing episodic small bowel obstruction after prolonged retention

“… 10 However, without clear evidence of active Crohn's disease, clinical findings concerning for bowel perforation, or failure to progress on immunosuppressant therapy the evidence clearly supports prompt surgical intervention to prevent complications associated with free intestinal perforation. 5,6,11 …”

“…While the morbidity and mortality for intestinal perforation secondary to a retained VCE is significant, to date there have only been three cases reported since the original FDA approval. 5–7 In each reported case active Crohn's disease was noted at the site of the capsule-associated intestinal perforation, suggesting thinning and friability as a predisposing pathophysiologic event to the perforation. Despite multiple components, to date there is only a single case report of mechanical failure in the device allowing capsule fragmentation.…”

Video Capsule Endoscopy of the Small Bowel for Monitoring of Crohnʼs Disease

“…33,62 Bowel perforation is an extremely rare complication of capsule endoscopy, with only a handful of cases reported to date. 2,63 The European Crohn's and Colitis Organization guideline promotes the evaluation of SB patency in patients with known CD, with either cross-sectional imaging or PC. 8 …”

Intestinal perforation due to minor blunt abdominal trauma–a harbinger of underlying disease pathology

“…Spontaneous free perforations are rare, occur at a rate from 1% to 5% [11], only 2% of those occurring in the small bowel, with the ileum being the most common site [12]. Many perforations are secondary to an inciting factor like colonoscopy [13] and, more recently, capsule endoscopy in patients with an undiagnosed stricture [14,15]. Perforation has been cited a number of times as the presenting symptom in Crohn's, either spontaneous [16] or from capsule endoscopy [17,18].…”