Wireless capsule endoscopy for investigation of the small bowel

Summary

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on wireless capsule endoscopy for investigation of the small bowel.

Description

Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding is defined as bleeding of unknown origin that persists or recurs after a negative initial endoscopy (colonoscopy and/or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy). Diagnosis may be difficult because bleeding can often be slow and/or intermittent. Patients may experience prolonged blood loss, leading to iron deficiency (anaemia) and a feeling of tiredness.

Small intestinal bleeding can result from a number of conditions, including vascular lesions (angiodysplasia), small bowel tumours, coeliac disease and Crohn’s disease (which may be suspected because of other symptoms).

The patient swallows a small capsule, usually after an overnight fast. This capsule consists of a camera, a light source and a wireless circuit for the acquisition and transmission of signals. As the capsule moves through the gastrointestinal tract, images are transmitted to a data recorder, worn on a belt outside the body. These data are transferred to a computer for interpretation. The capsule is then passed in the patient’s stool and not used again.

OPCS4.6 Code(s):

G80.2 Wireless capsule endoscopy    

_{The NHS Classifications Service of NHS Connecting for Health is the central definitive source for clinical coding guidance and determines the coding standards associated with the classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) to be used across the NHS.   The NHS Classifications Service and NICE work collaboratively to ensure the most appropriate classification codes are provided.  www.connectingforhealth.co.uk/clinicalcoding}

Details

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Links:

	IPG101 Wireless capsule endoscopy for investigation of the small bowel: guidance	15 December 2004
	IPG101 Wireless capsule endoscopy for investigation of the small bowel: guidance (web format)	09 February 2011
	IPG101 Wireless capsule endoscopy for investigation of the small bowel: understanding NICE guidance	15 December 2004
	IPG101 Endosgopi cwpan di-wifr ar gyfer archwilio'r coluddyn bach: deall canllawiau NICE	03 February 2009
	IPG101 Wireless capsule endoscopy for investigation of the small bowel: distribution list	15 December 2004
	Interventional procedure consultation document - Wireless capsule endoscopy	29 June 2004
	Overview of Wireless capsule endoscopy	29 June 2004