Benefits and risks

Information for the public

When NICE looked at the evidence, it based its recommendations on the fact that most of the evidence came from patients with suspected motility problems. The 12 studies that NICE looked at involved a total of 745 patients.

Generally, they showed the following benefits:

use of the wireless capsule confirmed the diagnosis in 58% of patients compared with radiopaque marker assessment or gastric emptying scintigraphy which confirmed diagnosis in 44% of patients
in 53% of patients, use of the wireless capsule led to a new diagnosis
between 50–69% of patients had their treatment (medicine, diet or surgery) changed after using the wireless capsule.

The studies showed that the risks included:

abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and difficulty swallowing in a small number of patients.
the device not working, which was reported in 4% of patients
the software not working which was reported in 7% of patients

If you want to know more about the studies see the guidance. Ask your health professional to explain anything you don't understand.