Case StudySafety of capsule endoscopy in patients with pacemakers
Section snippets
Patients and methods
All consecutive patients with cardiac pacemakers who were referred for CE were included in this observational study. An endoscopy assistant (a registered nurse) and a technician identified the patients, together with a cardiology registered nurse trained in pacemaker management. For each patient, a standard electrocardiogram was obtained, and pacemaker functions were checked at baseline evaluation. Cardiac rhythm was monitored during CE by means of a Holter monitor. After the procedure,
Observations
Five consecutive patients with cardiac pacemakers implanted for symptomatic bradyarrhythmias undergoing CE were studied. The indication for CE was GI bleeding of obscure origin in all cases.
The primary end point was any identified disturbance in pacemaker function during or immediately after CE. A cardiologist and pacemaker nurse specialist reviewed the Holter monitor recordings and checked pacemaker functions for each patient. Results of the pre- and post-procedure pacemaker checks and Holter
Discussion
Capsule endoscopy clearly has a place in the armamentarium for evaluation of certain GI disorders, especially GI bleeding of obscure origin.4 Many of the patients with these disorders are elderly, and some have underlying cardiac disease that requires pacemaker implantation. Therefore, it is of critical importance to know whether this new technology can be used safely in this group of patients.
Electromagnetic devices may interfere with the function of pacemakers.5., 6. Interference with ICDs
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