Transient tracheo-bronquial aspiration of capsule endoscope

An 81 year-old man with personal history of Alzheimer's disease and under antiplatelet drugs therapy presented with melena and no other symptoms. No source of bleeding was obtained at conventional upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Thus, video capsule endoscopy was indicated. Although the patient had not history of swallowing disorders and/or dysphagia, the ingestion of the capsule endoscope precipitated self-limited coughing. When capsule endoscope was reviewed the device was located at the tracheo-bronquial system (B-C) for 17 seconds. No symptoms were observed during this period. Afterwards, capsule endo- scopy migrated spontaneously to the oro-pharyngeal cavity (A-D) and continued across the gastrointestinal tract until cecum was reached.