Clinical Evaluation Gastrointestinal Motility With PillCam

Clinical Evaluation of Endoscopic Video Capsule for Investigation of Small Intestine Transit Time and Intestinal Pathology in Critically Ill Patients

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of a video camera pill (PillCam) in assessing intestinal function in the small intestines of patients. It is believed that the condition of the subjects digestive system can have a large impact on their overall physical health. Therefore, the investigators would like to assess whether using the pill device helps to determine any functional problems in patients in the ICU. The investigators are studying ICU patients because any change in their condition can have a large impact on their recovery. The same device will be used in healthy subjects scheduled for elective ambulatory surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

• mild-to-moderate brain injury patients who suffered from traumatic or non-traumatic intracranial hemorrhage
• admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU)
• needed an enteral tube placed for feeding
• control (ambulatory) group consisted of outpatients with no history of major abdominal surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• younger than 18 years
• suffered multiple injuries (especially abdominal trauma or inflammatory bowel disease)
• had a history of complicated or unknown abdominal surgery
• presented with clinical evidence of ileus or suspected obstruction
• Patients with a pacemaker