Retention of Small Bowel Capsule in a Patient with Remote Small Bowel Resection with a Normal CT Enterography and Patency Capsule Examination

Wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) uses an electronic small bowel capsule to transmit images of the small bowel to diagnose pathology. In patients at risk for capsule retention, the patency capsule, a radiopaque dissolvable capsule of the same size, may be used to predict that the small bowel capsule will pass through the patient. An abdominal radiograph or scanner is used to confirm passage of the patency capsule, predicting future passage with the small bowel capsule. If the patency capsule is retained in the small bowel, it will dissolve over time, relieving a potential obstruction. Patency capsules have been noted to be highly sensitive for detecting potential obstructing lesions and have a high negative predictive value for small bowel capsule retention. However, we describe a case and management of small bowel capsule retention occurring in a patient with a remote history of bowel resection for intussusception and normal small bowel demonstrated on CT enterography and a normal patency capsule examination.