Is Capsule Endoscopy Safe in Patients with Cardiac Devices? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Meta-Analysis. Population: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and gastrointestinal bleeding (n=443). Intervention: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE). Primary outcome: Transient CIED malfunction.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Video capsule endoscopy is safe and clinically effective in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices, with rare transient device malfunction (0.9%), no major adverse events, and a pooled diagnostic yield of 69%. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.CHALLENGES_CONSENSUS.

I I Lei; E Anku; O Khalil; R Arasaradnam

doi:10.1055/s-0046-1821266

June 1, 2026Endoscopy

Is Capsule Endoscopy Safe in Patients with Cardiac Devices? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Key result

Video capsule endoscopy proves safe in CIED patients with transient device malfunction in only ~1%.

n=443

Why the study?

Is video capsule endoscopy safe and effective in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices being investigated for gastrointestinal bleeding?

Key Points

To assess the safety and diagnostic performance of video capsule endoscopy in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices undergoing evaluation for gastrointestinal bleeding.
Systematic review of EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed covering 18 studies involving 443 patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices.
Random-effects meta-analysis of proportions using the Freeman–Tukey double arcsine transformation evaluated adverse cardiac events, signal interference, and diagnostic yield.
Transient cardiac device malfunction occurred in 0.9% (4/443) of cases with no clinically significant adverse events; pooled cardiac malfunction was 0% (95% CI: 0–1%) for implantable cardioverter–defibrillators and left ventricular assist devices, and 0% (95% CI: 0–6%; I²=63%) for pacemakers.
Signal interference affecting video quality occurred in 1.8% (8/443) of patients with an overall pooled rate of 0% (95% CI: 0–2%; I²=0%), whereas left ventricular assist devices had a pooled interference rate of 1% (95% CI: 0–6%; I²=25%).
Pooled diagnostic yield across all device types was 69% (95% CI: 58–80%; I²=55.5%).

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=443)

Structured PICO

Is video capsule endoscopy safe and effective in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices being investigated for gastrointestinal bleeding?

P

Population

443 patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices undergoing video capsule endoscopy for gastrointestinal bleeding or anaemia across 18 studies.

E

Exposure

Video capsule endoscopy (VCE)

O

Outcome

Adverse cardiac events, signal interference, and diagnostic yieldsafety

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Implication

Video capsule endoscopy is safe and maintains diagnostic yield in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices, suggesting that current restrictive guidelines should be reviewed.

Abstract

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Cite This Study

Lei et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and gastrointestinal bleeding (n=443). Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) was evaluated on Transient CIED malfunction. Video capsule endoscopy in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices was safe, with transient device malfunction occurring in only 0.9% of cases and a pooled diagnostic yield of 69%.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a3c2364d15afadd906fa165 https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0046-1821266

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Is Capsule Endoscopy Safe in Patients with Cardiac Devices? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Is Capsule Endoscopy Safe in Patients with Cardiac Devices? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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