SmartPill technology provides safe and effective assessment of gastrointestinal function in persons with spinal cord injury

• Published in: Spinal cord 2012-01, Vol.50 (1), p.81-84
• Main Authors: Williams, R E, Bauman, W A, Spungen, A M, Vinnakota, R R, Farid, R Z, Galea, M, Korsten, M A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anatomy; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Capsule Endoscopy - instrumentation; Capsule Endoscopy - methods; Cerebrospinal fluid. Meninges. Spinal cord; Female; Fragaria; Gastric Emptying - physiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - diagnosis; Gastrointestinal Diseases - etiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - physiopathology; Gastrointestinal Motility - physiology; Gastrointestinal Transit - physiology; Human Physiology; Humans; Injuries of the nervous system and the skull. Diseases due to physical agents; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurochemistry; Neurology; Neuropsychology; Neurosciences; original-article; Quadriplegia - diagnosis; Quadriplegia - etiology; Quadriplegia - physiopathology; Spinal Cord Injuries - diagnosis; Spinal Cord Injuries - etiology; Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology; Time Factors; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents
• ISSN: 1362-4393; 1476-5624
• DOI: 10.1038/sc.2011.92

Study design: Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in gastrointestinal (GI) complications, including gastroesophageal reflux disease and constipation, but much of the data is based on older technology. Objective: GI transit times were determined in subjects with SCI using a new device called a SmartPill. Our principal goal was to assess whether this new technology can be applied in persons with SCI. Methods: SCI and age- and gender-matched able-bodied (AB) control subjects not taking proton pump inhibitors were studied. Following an 8-h overnight fast, subjects consumed 120 g EggBeaters (60 kcal), two slices of white bread (120 kcal) and 30 g strawberry jam (74 kcal). A pH calibrated SmartPill capsule was swallowed with 8 ounces of water, after which subjects fasted for an additional 6 h prior to consuming an Ensure Plus nutrition shake (350 kcal). Subjects remained fasted for an additional 2 h, after which time they resumed their regular diets. Results: Twenty subjects with SCI and 10 AB control subjects were studied. Data are expressed as mean±s.d. Comparing the group with SCI to the AB control group, gastric emptying time (GET), colonic transit time (CTT) and whole gut transit time (WGTT) were prolonged (GET: 10.6±7.2 vs 3.5±1.0 h, P