I’m not sure this will take off, but a recent study (Z Liao et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016; 14: 1266-73) showed the feasibility and accuracy of using a magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE) to detect diseases in the stomach with a high rate of accuracy.

This was a multicenter blinded study comparing MCE with conventional gastroscopy in 350 patients (mean age 46.6 years).  Technique: MCE system relied on a guidance robot with a C-arm.  The capsule could also be manipulated manually with a joystick.  Examinations took no longer than 30 minutes and required no sedation.  To improve visualization, a defoaming agent and pronase granules (to remove mucus) were given.  Also, if visualization was not adequate, the patient was instructed to infest water.

Key findings:

• MCE detected lesions in the stomach with 90.4% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity.  The negative predictive values was 95.9%.
• 110 (31.4%) patients who had MCE required endoscopic biopsies.

In patients capable of swallowing the capsule, MCE could allow very good inspection of the stomach without sedation and at much lower cost.  In adults, nearly a third would still need conventional gastroscopy to obtain biopsies and MCE would not be ideal for detecting duodenal diseases like celiac disease.

My take: I doubt MCE will be used much in this country anytime soon.

this is art?