Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/a-2522-1995
Performance measures for small-bowel endoscopy: a European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Quality Improvement Initiative – Update 2025

Abstract
Quality markers and patient experience are being implemented to ensure standardization of practice across gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy procedures. The set benchmarks ensure high quality procedures are delivered and linked to measurable outcomes.
There has been an increase in the demand for small-bowel endoscopy. In 2019, the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) embarked on setting performance measures for small-bowel endoscopy. This included major (key) and minor performance indicators for both small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) and device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE). These suggested quality indicators cover all procedure domains, from patient selection and preparation, to intraprocedural aspects such as pathology identification, appropriate management, the patient experience, and post-procedure complications. Since 2019, there has been an increase in published studies looking at different aspects of small-bowel endoscopy, including real-world data. This paper provides an update on the 2019 performance measures, considering the latest literature.
Publication History
Article published online:
05 February 2025
© 2025. European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. All rights reserved.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany
-
References
- 1 Spada C, McNamara D, Despott EJ. et al. Performance measures for small-bowel endoscopy: a European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Quality Improvement Initiative. Endoscopy 2019; 51: 574-598
- 2 Pennazio M, Rondonotti E, Despott EJ. et al. Small-bowel capsule endoscopy and device-assisted enteroscopy for diagnosis and treatment of small-bowel disorders: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline – Update 2022. Endoscopy 2023; 55: 58-95
- 3 Leighton JA, Brock AS, Semrad CE. et al. Quality indicators for capsule endoscopy and deep enteroscopy. Gastrointest Endosc 2022; 96: 693-711
- 4 Xin L, Liao Z, Jiang YP. et al. Indications, detectability, positive findings, total enteroscopy, and complications of diagnostic double-balloon endoscopy: A systematic review of data over the first decade of use. Gastrointest Endosc 2011; 74: 563-570
- 5 Valdivia PC, Skonieczna-żydecka K, Elosua A. et al. Indications, detection, completion and retention rates of capsule endoscopy in two decades of use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Diagnostics 2022; 12
- 6 Estevinho MM, Pinho R, Fernandes C. et al. Diagnostic and therapeutic yields of early capsule endoscopy and device-assisted enteroscopy in the setting of overt GI bleeding: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Gastrointest Endosc 2022; 95: 610-625.e9
- 7 Elli L, Casazza G, Locatelli M. et al. Use of enteroscopy for the detection of malignant and premalignant lesions of the small bowel in complicated celiac disease: a meta-analysis. Gastrointest Endosc 2017; 86: 264-273.e1
- 8 Triantafyllou K, Gkolfakis P, Viazis N. et al. A 13-year time trend analysis of 3724 small bowel video capsule endoscopies and a forecast model during the financial crisis in Greece. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 29: 185-191
- 9 Lazaridis LD, Tziatzios G, Toth E. et al. Implementation of European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) recommendations for small-bowel capsule endoscopy into clinical practice: Results of an official ESGE survey. Endoscopy 2021; 53: 970-980
- 10 Varkey J, Jonsson V, Hessman E. et al. Diagnostic yield for video capsule endoscopy in gastrointestinal graft- versus -host disease: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Scand J Gastroenterol 2023; 58: 945-952
- 11 Teutsch B, Boros E, Váncsa S. et al. Mucoprotective drugs can prevent and treat nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced small bowel enteropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2021; 14
- 12 Shah N, Chen C, Montano N. et al. Video capsule endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the emergency department: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Emerg Med 2020; 38: 1245-1252
- 13 Singh K, Zubair A, Prindle A. et al. Diagnostic yield of capsule endoscopy for small bowel arteriovenous malformations in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Endosc Int Open 2019; 07: E282-E289
- 14 Cortegoso Valdivia P, Deding U, Bjørsum-Meyer T. et al. Surveillance of the small-bowel by capsule endoscopy in Lynch syndrome – A systematic review with meta-analysis. Dig Liver Dis 2024; 56: 601-606
- 15 Kaminski M, Thomas-Gibson S, Bugajski M. et al. Performance measures for lower gastrointestinal endoscopy: a European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Quality Improvement Initiative. Endoscopy 2017; 49: 378-397
- 16 Gkolfakis P, Tziatzios G, Dimitriadis GD. et al. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials challenging the usefulness of purgative preparation before small-bowel video capsule endoscopy. Endoscopy 2018; 50: 671-683
- 17 Yung DE, Rondonotti E, Sykes C. et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis: is bowel preparation still necessary in small bowel capsule endoscopy?. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017; 11: 979-993
- 18 Marmo C, Riccioni ME, Pennazio M. et al. Small bowel cleansing for capsule endoscopy, systematic review and meta- analysis: Timing is the real issue. Dig Liver Dis 2023; 55: 454-463
- 19 Chen S, Guo L-L, Zhong L. et al. Preparation of small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) with simethicone: A meta-analysis. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2022; 46
- 20 Koulaouzidis A, Giannakou A, Yung DE. et al. Do prokinetics influence the completion rate in small-bowel capsule endoscopy?. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Curr Med Res Opin 2013; 29: 1171-1185
- 21 Park SC, Keum B, Hyun JJ. et al. A novel cleansing score system for capsule endoscopy. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16: 875-880
- 22 Brotz C, Nandi N, Conn M. et al. A validation study of 3 grading systems to evaluate small-bowel cleansing for wireless capsule endoscopy: a quantitative index, a qualitative evaluation, and an overall adequacy assessment. Gastrointest Endosc 2009; 69: 262-270.e1
- 23 Pasha SF, Pennazio M, Rondonotti E. et al. Capsule retention in Crohn’s disease: a meta-analysis. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2020; 26: 33-42
- 24 O’Hara F, Walker C, McNamara D. Patency testing improves capsule retention rates but at what cost?. A retrospective look at patency testing. Front Med 2023; 10
- 25 Omori T, Ohmiya N, Watanabe K. et al. Nationwide multicenter study on adverse events associated with a patency capsule: Additional survey of appropriate use of patency capsule study. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 39: 337-345
- 26 Jawaid S, Marya NB, Hicks M. et al. Prospective cost analysis of early video capsule endoscopy versus standard of care in non-hematemesis gastrointestinal bleeding: a non-inferiority study. J Med Econ 2020; 23: 10-16
- 27 Meltzer AC, Limkakeng AT, Gentile NT. et al. Risk stratification with video capsule endoscopy leads to fewer hospital admissions in emergency department patients with low‐risk to moderate‐risk upper gastrointestinal bleed: A multicenter clinical trial. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open 2021; 2: e12579
- 28 Lee TJW, Siau K, Esmaily S. et al. Development of a national automated endoscopy database: The United Kingdom National Endoscopy Database (NED). United Eur Gastroenterol J 2019; 7: 798-806
- 29 Korman LY, Delvaux M, Gay G. et al. Capsule Endoscopy Structured Terminology (CEST): proposal of a standardized and structured terminology for reporting capsule endoscopy procedures. Endoscopy 2005; 37: 951-959
- 30 Delvaux M, Friedman S, Keuchel M. et al. Structured terminology for capsule endoscopy: results of retrospective testing and validation in 766 small-bowel investigations. Endoscopy 2005; 37: 945-950
- 31 Jang BI, Lee SH, Moon J-S. et al. Inter-observer agreement on the interpretation of capsule endoscopy findings based on capsule endoscopy structured terminology: A multicenter study by the Korean Gut Image Study Group. Scand J Gastroenterol 2010; 45: 370-374
- 32 Pezzoli A, Cannizzaro R, Pennazio M. et al. Interobserver agreement in describing video capsule endoscopy findings: A multicentre prospective study. Dig Liver Dis 2011; 43: 126-131
- 33 Leenhardt R, Li C, Koulaouzidis A. et al. Nomenclature and semantic description of vascular lesions in small bowel capsule endoscopy: an international Delphi consensus statement. Endosc Int Open 2019; 07: E372-E379
- 34 Leenhardt R, Buisson A, Bourreille A. et al. Nomenclature and semantic descriptions of ulcerative and inflammatory lesions seen in Crohn’s disease in small bowel capsule endoscopy: An international Delphi consensus statement. United Eur Gastroenterol J 2020; 8: 99-107
- 35 Elli L, Marinoni B, Sidhu R. et al. Nomenclature and definition of atrophic lesions in small bowel capsule endoscopy: A Delphi Consensus Statement of the International CApsule endoscopy REsearch (I-CARE) Group. Diagnostics 2022; 12: 1704
- 36 Westerhof J, Koornstra JJ, Weersma RK. Can we reduce capsule endoscopy reading times?. Gastrointest Endosc 2009; 69: 497-502
- 37 Rondonotti E, Spada C, Adler S. et al. Small-bowel capsule endoscopy and device-assisted enteroscopy for diagnosis and treatment of small-bowel disorders: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Technical Review. Endoscopy 2018; 50: 423-446
- 38 Sidhu R, Sanders DS, Morris AJ. et al. Guidelines on small bowel enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy in adults. Gut 2007; 57: 125-136
- 39 Beg S, Card T, Sidhu R. et al. The impact of reader fatigue on the accuracy of capsule endoscopy interpretation. Dig Liver Dis 2021; 53: 1028-1033
- 40 Spada C, Piccirelli S, Hassan C. et al. AI-assisted capsule endoscopy reading in suspected small bowel bleeding: a multicentre prospective study. Lancet Digit Heal 2024; 6: e345-e353
- 41 Ribeiro T. Artificial intelligence and capsule endoscopy: automatic detection of vascular lesions using a convolutional neural network. Ann Gastroenterol 2021; 34: 820-828
- 42 Mascarenhas Saraiva MJ, Afonso J, Ribeiro T. et al. Deep learning and capsule endoscopy: automatic identification and differentiation of small bowel lesions with distinct haemorrhagic potential using a convolutional neural network. BMJ Open Gastroenterol 2021; 8: e000753
- 43 Leenhardt R, Fernandez-Urien Sainz I, Rondonotti E. et al. PEACE: Perception and Expectations toward Artificial Intelligence in Capsule Endoscopy. J Clin Med 2021; 10: 5708
- 44 Xie X, Xiao YF, Zhao XY. et al. Development and validation of an artificial intelligence model for small bowel capsule endoscopy video review. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5: e2221992
- 45 Rondonotti E, Soncini M, Girelli C. et al. Small bowel capsule endoscopy in clinical practice: A multicenter 7-year survey. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2010; 22: 1380-1386
- 46 Cheon J, Kim Y-S, Lee I-S. et al. Can we predict spontaneous capsule passage after retention?. A nationwide study to evaluate the incidence and clinical outcomes of capsule retention. Endoscopy 2007; 39: 1046-1052
- 47 Sidhu R, Chetcuti Zammit S, Baltes P. et al. Curriculum for small-bowel capsule endoscopy and device-assisted enteroscopy training in Europe: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Position Statement. Endoscopy 2020; 52: 669-686
- 48 Mönkemüller K, Neumann H, Meyer F. et al. A retrospective analysis of emergency double-balloon enteroscopy for small-bowel bleeding. Endoscopy 2009; 41: 715-717
- 49 Shiha MG, Sidhu R, Lucaciu LA. et al. Device-assisted enteroscopy performance measures in the United Kingdom: DEEP-UK quality improvement project. Endoscopy 2024; 56: 174-181
- 50 Yin A, Hu W, Zhao L. et al. Diagnosis and therapy using double-balloon endoscopy for small bowel disease: experience from a Chinese tertiary hospital. J Int Med Res 2020; 48
- 51 Joshi GP, Abdelmalak BB, Weigel WA. et al. 2023 American Society of Anesthesiologists Practice Guidelines for preoperative fasting: carbohydrate-containing clear liquids with or without protein, chewing gum, and pediatric fasting duration—a modular update of the 2017 American Society of Anesthesiologists Practice Guidelines for Preoperative Fasting. Anesthesiology 2023; 138: 132-151
- 52 Hassan C, East J, Radaelli F. et al. Bowel preparation for colonoscopy: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline – Update 2019. Endoscopy 2019; 51: 775-794
- 53 Trebbi M, Casadei C, Dari S. et al. Outcomes of double balloon-enteroscopy in elderly vs. adult patients: a retrospective 16-year single-centre study.. Diagnostics 2023; 13: 1112
- 54 Lee SP, Jang HJ, Kae SH. et al. Indication, location of the lesion, diagnostic yield, and therapeutic yield of double-balloon enteroscopy: seventeen years of experience. Diagnostics 2022; 12: 2224
- 55 Shelnut D, Sims O, Zaibaq J. et al. Predictors for outcomes and readmission rates following double balloon enteroscopy: a tertiary care experience. Endosc Int Open 2018; 06: E751-E757
- 56 Noujaim MG, Parish A, Raines D. et al. Use, yield, and risk of device-assisted enteroscopy in the United States. J Clin Gastroenterol 2021; 55: 792-797
- 57 Wang P, Wang Y, Dong Y. et al. Outcomes and safety of double-balloon enteroscopy in small bowel diseases: a single-center experience of 1531 procedures. Surg Endosc 2021; 35: 576-583
- 58 Martins M, Mascarenhas M, Afonso J. et al. Deep-learning and device-assisted enteroscopy: automatic panendoscopic detection of ulcers and erosions. Medicina (B Aires) 2023; 59: 172
- 59 Mascarenhas Saraiva M, Ribeiro T, Afonso J. et al. Deep learning and device-assisted enteroscopy: automatic detection of gastrointestinal angioectasia. Medicina (B Aires) 2021; 57: 1378
- 60 Cardoso P, Saraiva MM, Afonso J. et al. Artificial intelligence and device-assisted enteroscopy: automatic detection of enteric protruding lesions using a convolutional neural network. Clin Transl Gastroenterol 2022; 13: e00514
- 61 Ferlitsch M, Hassan C, Bisschops R. et al. Colorectal polypectomy and endoscopic mucosal resection: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline – Update 2024. Endoscopy 2024; 56: 516-545
- 62 Gao Y, Xin L, Zhang Y-T. et al. Technical and clinical aspects of diagnostic single-balloon enteroscopy in the first decade of use: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gut Liver 2021; 15: 262-272
- 63 Song JH, Jeon SR, Kim JS. et al. Performance of balloon-assisted enteroscopy for non-ERCP indications in patients with surgically altered gastrointestinal anatomy. Dig Dis Sci 2023; 68: 2545-2552
- 64 Cortegoso Valdivia P, Rondonotti E, Pennazio M. Safety and efficacy of an enteroscopy-based approach in reducing the polyp burden in patients with Peutz–Jeghers syndrome: experience from a tertiary referral center. Ther Adv Gastrointest Endosc 2020; 13
- 65 Perrod G, Samaha E, Perez-Cuadrado-Robles E. et al. Small bowel polyp resection using device‐assisted enteroscopy in Peutz‐Jeghers Syndrome: Results of a specialised tertiary care centre. United Eur Gastroenterol J 2020; 8: 204-210
- 66 Bettenworth D, Bokemeyer A, Kou L. et al. Systematic review with meta‐analysis: efficacy of balloon‐assisted enteroscopy for dilation of small bowel Crohn’s disease strictures. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2020; 52: 1104-1116
- 67 Munson GW, Van Norstrand MD, O’Donnell JJ. et al. Intraprocedural evaluation of comfort for sedated outpatient upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. Gastroenterol Nurs 2011; 34: 296-301
- 68 Rostom A, Ross ED, Dubé C. et al. Development and validation of a nurse-assessed patient comfort score for colonoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc 2013; 77: 255-261
- 69 Shiani A, Lipka S, Lai A. et al. Carbon dioxide versus room air insufflation during balloon-assisted enteroscopy: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Endosc Int Open 2017; 05: E67-E75
- 70 Nishizawa T, Suzuki H, Fujimoto A. et al. Effects of carbon dioxide insufflation in balloon‐assisted enteroscopy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. United Eur Gastroenterol J 2016; 4: 11-17
- 71 Aquino J, Bernardo W, de Moura D. et al. Carbon dioxide versus air insufflation enteroscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials. Endosc Int Open 2018; 06: E637-E645
- 72 Irvine AJ, Sanders DS, Hopper A. et al. How does tolerability of double balloon enteroscopy compare to other forms of endoscopy?. Frontline Gastroenterol 2016; 7: 41-46
- 73 Ching H-L, Branchi F, Sanders DS. et al. Paradigm shift: should the elderly undergo propofol sedation for DBE?. A prospective cohort study. Frontline Gastroenterol 2018; 9: 192-199
- 74 Sidhu R, Turnbull D, Newton M. et al. Deep sedation and anaesthesia in complex gastrointestinal endoscopy: a joint position statement endorsed by the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), Joint Advisory Group (JAG) and Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA). Frontline Gastroenterol 2019; 10: 141-147
- 75 Evans B, Ellsmere J, Hossain I. et al. Colonoscopy skills improvement training improves patient comfort during colonoscopy. Surg Endosc 2022; 36: 4588-4592
- 76 About JAG Endoscopy Training System (JETS). Accessed: 21 November 2024. Available from: https://jets.thejag.org.uk/about/about-jag-endoscopy-training-system-jets/