Robot Assisted Magnetically Controlled Capsule Endoscopy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of the role of robot assisted magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy to investigate patients with iron deficiency anaemia
IRAS ID
349888
Contact name
John Plevris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) due to suspected blood loss from the digestive system is a common reason for referral to gastroenterology. Most of these patients are investigated with upper gastrointestinal (GI) investigations (oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD)), lower GI investigations (colonoscopy, CT colonoscopy or qFIT) and, if negative, with small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE). SBCE consists of a single use minipill camera that the patient swallows and which wirelessly transmits images of the small bowel.
In this study we will recruit patients who have already had an OGD and lower GI investigations which did not identify the source of IDA, and who need the small bowel to be investigated. This will comprise both patients who would have proceeded directly to SBCE under standard care and also those from whom an initial 'watch and wait' approach may have been adopted before proceeding to SBCE. We will propose to investigate these patients during a single patient visit to Leith Community Treatment Centre, Edinburgh, with a CE marked robotic capsule system which can examine both the upper GI tract (i.e. the oesophagus and the stomach) and the small bowel in one investigation using a magnetic guided capsule.
The aim of the study is to compare the findings from OGD with the robotic capsule system and to determine if such a system may safely replace OGD - thus examining the upper GI tract and small bowel for IDA in one less invasive investigation. This has the potential to decrease patient discomfort, stress and anxiety, while also reducing pressure on busy endoscopy departments, helping to ensure that the right patients receive the right investigations in a timely manner.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/YH/0132
Date of REC Opinion
13 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion