Mirocam® capsule endoscopy has been widely used in Korea; however, data with respect to Mirocam® capsule endoscopy is lacking. We have assessed the factors affecting complete small bowel studies and diagnostic yield in Mirocam® capsule endoscopic studies.

We retrospectively analyzed 103 cases that were assessed with Mirocam® capsule endoscopy between June 2007 and February 2010 at Guro Korea University Hospital.

The mean age of the 103 cases was 55.47 years (range, 16-99 years) and 67 cases (65%) were male. The indications for capsule endoscopy were hematochezia/melena (77 cases, 74.8%), anemia (8 cases, 7.8%), abdominal pain (12 cases, 11.7%), and miscellaneous (weight loss and chronic diarrhea; 6 cases, 5.8%). The mean stomach transit time was 59.9±88.3 minutes (range, 1-630 minutes) and the mean small bowel transit time was 396.0±131.7 minutes (range, 117-708 minutes). The rate of successfully performing a complete small bowel study was 82.5% (85 cases), and the stomach transit time was a significant factor for a complete small bowel study (OR=0.991, 95% CI=0.984-0.998, P =0.012). The diagnostic yield was 51.5% (53 cases); visual quality was a significant factor in determining the diagnostic yield (OR=6.776, 95% CI=1.32-34.70, P =0.022).

In a Mirocam® capsule endoscopic study, short stomach transit time was a significant factor affecting completion of the small bowel study. Achieving excellent visual quality by good bowel preparation was a significant factor for improving the diagnostic yield.