Capsule endoscope aspiration into the respiratory tract is a rare complication of capsule endoscopy. Despite the potential seriousness of this complication, no accepted methods exist to accurately predict and therefore prevent it. We describe the case of an 85-year-old male who presented for evaluation of iron deficiency anemia. He complained of dysphagia while ingesting a patency capsule, with several attempts over a period of 5 min before he was successful. Five days later, he underwent capsule endoscopy, where he experienced similar symptoms in swallowing the capsule. The rest of the examination proceeded uneventfully. On reviewing the captured images, the capsule endoscope was revealed to be aspirated, remaining in the respiratory tract for approximately 220 s before images of the esophagus and stomach appeared. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a patient who experienced capsule endoscope aspiration after ingestion of a patency capsule. This case suggests that repeated attempts required for ingesting the patency capsule can predict capsule endoscope aspiration. We presume that paying sufficient attention to the symptoms of a patient who ingests a patency capsule could help us prevent serious complications such as aspiration of the capsule endoscope. In addition, this experience implies the potential risk for ingesting the patency capsule. We must be aware that the patency capsule could also be aspirated and there may be more unrecognized aspiration cases.
Gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by the direct invasion of a hepatocellular carcinoma successfully treated with polyglycolic acid sheet shielding ▶ Fig. 2 Endoscopic views showing: a a submucosal tumor with central ulceration in the lesser curvature of the stomach; b, c infiltrating irregular reddish-white tumor with partial necrosis, showing intermittent blood oozing. ▶ Fig. 1 Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showing a markedly enlarged hepatocellular carcinoma in the left lobe (arrowhead), approximately 10 cm in diameter, which was compressing the stomach (arrows).
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