How would you manage an asymptomatic patient after VCE showing small bowel Crohn's who passes the patency capsule but has retained the video capsule in the distal ileum with minimal surrounding inflammation?
The patient has been on prednisone for a couple of weeks. They have not had any obstructive symptoms and feel well. It has been a little over a month now since the VCE study. How long should this be watched? Is surgery ever indicated if it is not symptomatic?
2 Answers
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Gastroenterology · Mayo Clinic
Answered on
A capsule can take up to 10 days to pass in a normal situation. If you have radiographic evidence of a retained capsule and the patient is on prednisone, it might take another 2 weeks or so to get the inflammation down. Remember that the capsule should continue to get crushed and really should pass ...
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Gastroenterology · Houston Methodist Gastroenterology Associates
Answered on
If asymptomatic, the patient can be watched for long-term without the need for surgery. There have been cases of capsule retention for even up to a year, and I have had clinical experience of a patient with capsule retention for many years. IF the decision made is to wait and watch, then I would rec...
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