An affixed, ingestible blood-sensing monitor for continuous monitoring after high-risk endoscopic procedures: a case series

TL;DR

A new ingestible sensor was tested to detect bleeding after high-risk endoscopic procedures, showing promise for real-time monitoring.

Contribution

The study introduces a fixed, capsule-based sensor for continuous postprocedural bleeding detection in high-risk endoscopic patients.

Findings

The sensor detected bleeding in 3 out of 5 cases, with repeat endoscopy confirming bleeding in 2 sensor-positive cases.

Sensor migration occurred in 3 cases, but no adverse events were observed during follow-up.

The sensor was safely used as an adjunct to standard monitoring, supporting its feasibility.

Abstract

Detecting postprocedural bleeding (PPB) after high-risk endoscopic interventions remains challenging. A fixed intraluminal bleeding sensor could improve PPB detection.

This case series included patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) who were monitored for 24 to 48 hours by affixing a capsule-based bleeding sensor to the duodenal wall.

Five patients underwent ERCP with sphincterotomy (n = 3) or ampullectomy (n = 2). The sensor was positive in 3 and negative in 2. Repeat endoscopy confirmed bleeding in 2 sensor-positive cases and 1 sensor-negative case, and hemostasis was successfully achieved. Sensor migration occurred in 3 cases. One patient with persistently negative readings was safely discharged. No adverse events occurred over 3 to 6 months of follow-up.

This pilot series supports the feasibility of a fixed capsule–based sensor for real-time PPB detection as an adjunct to standard monitoring. Larger studies are needed to validate effectiveness and optimize deployment.

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