Endoscopy 2008; 40(1): 73-75
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-966785
Case report

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Successful videocapsule endoscopy in patients with an abdominal cardiac pacemaker

M.  H.  Dirks1 , F.  Costea2 , E.  G.  Seidman2
  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Sainte Justine Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Montreal, Canada
  • 2Division of Gastroenterology, McGill University Health Center, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Further Information

Publication History

submitted 7 June 2007

accepted after revision 25 June 2007

Publication Date:
22 December 2007 (online)

Pacemaker location in the abdominal wall is considered a contraindication to videocapsule endoscopy (VCE). The aim of this study was to review our experience on the use of VCE in patients with a pacemaker located in the abdominal wall. VCE was carried out with monitoring of cardiac rhythm. This was a retrospective review of VCE case studies performed at two tertiary care university medical centers (pediatric and adult). The main outcome measures were adverse events and quality of VCE images. No adverse events were experienced in any of the five patients with implanted cardiac pacemakers, including the two with abdominal pacemaker. No interference with the VCE recording was observed during the studies, although the capsule was observed to be briefly inactivated by the pacemaker in one case. The present study, though small, suggests that VCE is safe in adult and pediatric patients who are fitted with cardiac pacemakers, even when implanted in the abdominal wall. The VCE exam can be carried out successfully under close supervision. Dysfunction of the capsule appears to be more likely than problems with cardiac pacing.

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E. Seidman, MD

Capsule Endoscopy Lab, C10.133

MGH Campus

McGill University Health Center

1650 Cedar Avenue

Montreal, QC

Canada H3G 1A4

Fax: +1-514-934-8321

Email: digestivelab@hotmail.com