Value of early capsular endoscopy for severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

This case illustrates the importance of early capsule endoscopy in cases of severe rectal bleeding when initial diagnostic tests do not document the site of bleeding. Although this case occurred in a community hospital capable of performing capsule endoscopy, I practice at a city hospital that serves the poor and underserved and currently does not have capsule endoscopy capability. Over the years, we have seen several cases of severe rectal bleeding where the site of bleeding was never identified, despite multiple diagnostic procedures short of capsule endoscopy. Often times, the bleeding stops spontaneously or ends in emergency surgery where morbidity or mortality is increased. Physicians like myself need to be made aware of this relatively new diagnostic tool that provides added value to standard diagnostic tests for evaluating severe rectal bleeding of unknown etiology. Early identification of the site of rectal bleeding may curtail the need for multiple transfusions, resolve economical burden, and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with severe rectal bleeding.