Clinical Trial: Endoscopic Evaluation of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding (GIB) in Patients Presenting With Melena

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Endoscopic Evaluation of the Incidence and Etiology of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients Presenting With Melena

Brief Summary: To evaluate the incidence and etiology of small bowel or large bowel bleeding in patients presenting with melena.

Detailed Summary:

Although tarry stool is a common feature of peptic ulcer bleeding, it can also be a manifestation of lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Examples include colonic cancer, small bowel tumors, and small or large bowel ulcers induced by aspirin or painkillers (NSAIDs). However, clinicians are often misled by the finding of peptic ulcers as the source of GI bleeding. It is not uncommon to detect peptic ulcers incidentally but the source of bleeding is actually in the lower GI tract (e.g. NSAID- or aspirin-induced small or large bowel bleeding ulcers, small bowel tumors, or colorectal cancer). Delay in diagnosis of lower GI bleeding often leads to serious consequences.

The preferred investigations for lower GI bleeding are colonoscopy plus video capsule endoscopy. Colonoscopy has been the gold standard for the diagnosis of colonic bleeding. The risk of colonoscopy-induced complications such as bleeding or perforation is less than 1 in 3500. Video capsule endoscopy is a non-invasive, safe and accurate technology that has been approved by the FDA for investigation of small bowel diseases. The video capsule is an 11x 26mm capsule that encases a digital camera, light-emitting diodes, batteries, and a transmitter. The patient needs to swallow the video capsule after an overnight fast and wear a recording device for eight hours. Images are taken twice-per-second and transmitted to the recording device. Oral feeding can be resumed after four hours. There is no restriction to daily activities. The swallowed capsule will be expelled naturally after 5 to 12 hours virtually in all patients. The risk of capsule retention is very low and only occurs in patients with severe small bowel stricture.

This study aims to assess the incidence and etiology of lower GI bleeding in patients presenting with tarry stool. The result will provide importa
Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Current Primary Outcome: Diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy as the primary investigation for small bowel after negative esophagogastroduodenoscopy [ Time Frame: 48 hours ]

Original Primary Outcome: Diagnostic yield of CE as the primary investigation for small bowel after negative EGD

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Dates:
Date Received: September 9, 2005
Date Started: February 2005
Date Completion:
Last Updated: August 10, 2015
Last Verified: January 2011