The term endoscopy refers to a special technique for looking inside the digestive tract. Capsule endoscopy uses a video capsule that contains a miniature color video camera with a light, transmitter and batteries to perform a painless examination of your small intestine.
You may be surprised at the size of the capsule—it is the size of a large vitamin pill, just over an inch long and less than ½ inch wide. Once swallowed, it travels through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, sending multiple images per second to a recording device worn around your waist. The capsule will move through your digestive system and be eliminated through a normal bowel movement.
Each capsule is designed for a single use, and will not harm the environment or your household plumbing.
Your gastroenterologist may also use capsule endoscopy to monitor the progress of treatment plans for these conditions.
On the day of your test, come to your doctor's office dressed in loose fitting, two piece clothing. A member of our medical staff will review the procedure with you and make sure that you understand what will be done.
If there is anything you don't understand, ask for more information!
For a small bowel capsule endoscopy, the sensors will be placed on your abdomen using sticky patches and connected by wires to a recording device, which you will wear around your waist during the entire procedure.
You will swallow the capsule with water—sitting or standing—at your gastroenterologist's office, and then you will be allowed to leave and go about your regular routine. You will be given a form to record the time and nature of sensations and activities, including eating and drinking.
Four hours after you swallow the capsule, you may eat a light snack, unless your gastroenterologist tells you otherwise. You should avoid strenuous physical activity, especially if it involves sweating, and should not bend or stoop during the test.
During the test, the small light on the data recorder will blink to confirm that it is receiving data. If it stops blinking, contact your physician.
After eight hours, you'll return to your doctor's office, where the sensors will be removed and you will turn in the data recorder and your activity log.
After a few days, you will hear from your doctor with the results of your capsule endoscopy. You may have questions you want to ask the doctor about your results or the potential next steps in your treatment plan.
The capsule will continue passing through your digestive tract and will be eliminated through a normal bowel movement in the next two to three days. There is no need to attempt to retrieve the device.
Cramping and abdominal discomfort have not yet been reported during the capsule endoscopy procedure.
Very rarely, the capsule can become stuck in the digestive tract due to a blockage or narrowing of the intestines. In this case, surgery may be required to remove the capsule.
You are at a higher risk of blockage if you have a history of bowel obstruction or previous gastrointestinal surgery — be sure to discuss the risks with your doctor before the procedure. If you cannot positively confirm that the capsule has been excreted from your body within a week, contact your gastroenterologist for an evaluation and possible abdominal X-ray to establish the location of the capsule.
You should not undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination or be near any powerful magnetic fields (such as amateur or ham radio) until after the capsule is excreted. Doing so could result in serious damage to your intestinal tract and abdominal cavity.
You may be surprised at the size of the capsule—it is the size of a large vitamin pill, just over an inch long and less than ½ inch wide. Once swallowed, it travels through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, sending multiple images per second to a recording device worn around your waist. The capsule will move through your digestive system and be eliminated through a normal bowel movement.
Each capsule is designed for a single use, and will not harm the environment or your household plumbing.
Capsule Endoscopy Uses
Your gastroenterologist will use the images transmitted by the capsule to diagnose and evaluate a variety of conditions, including:- Diarrhea
- Polyps
- Anemia and bleeding
- Bowel function
- Malabsorption
- Abdominal pain
- Tumors and some cancers
- Celiac sprue
- Crohn's disease
Your gastroenterologist may also use capsule endoscopy to monitor the progress of treatment plans for these conditions.
Preparing for the Test
There are important steps you must take to safely prepare for and participate in the procedure, including:- Provide your doctor a complete list of all the medicines you are taking and any allergies you have to drugs or other substances.
- Tell your gastroenterologist if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electromedical devices.
- Discuss conditions such as previous abdominal surgery, swallowing problems or previous history of obstructions in the bowel that may impact the test.
- For small bowel capsule endoscopy, you should not eat or drink within 10 hours of your procedure. Male patients may also need to shave the area around the navel.
- Do not take any medication in the two hours before your test time.
On the day of your test, come to your doctor's office dressed in loose fitting, two piece clothing. A member of our medical staff will review the procedure with you and make sure that you understand what will be done.
If there is anything you don't understand, ask for more information!
During the Test
For a small bowel capsule endoscopy, the sensors will be placed on your abdomen using sticky patches and connected by wires to a recording device, which you will wear around your waist during the entire procedure.
You will swallow the capsule with water—sitting or standing—at your gastroenterologist's office, and then you will be allowed to leave and go about your regular routine. You will be given a form to record the time and nature of sensations and activities, including eating and drinking.
Four hours after you swallow the capsule, you may eat a light snack, unless your gastroenterologist tells you otherwise. You should avoid strenuous physical activity, especially if it involves sweating, and should not bend or stoop during the test.
During the test, the small light on the data recorder will blink to confirm that it is receiving data. If it stops blinking, contact your physician.
After eight hours, you'll return to your doctor's office, where the sensors will be removed and you will turn in the data recorder and your activity log.
After Capsule Endoscopy
After the procedure, you will need to return the data recorder and sensors to your doctor's office. Your gastroenterologist will download the data from the recorder and will view a color video of the pictures.After a few days, you will hear from your doctor with the results of your capsule endoscopy. You may have questions you want to ask the doctor about your results or the potential next steps in your treatment plan.
The capsule will continue passing through your digestive tract and will be eliminated through a normal bowel movement in the next two to three days. There is no need to attempt to retrieve the device.
Possible Complications
There have been few side effects reported with capsule endoscopy. You should contact your gastroenterologist immediately if you:- Develop a fever after swallowing the capsule
- Have trouble swallowing
- Begin to vomit
- Experience increasing chest or abdominal pain
Cramping and abdominal discomfort have not yet been reported during the capsule endoscopy procedure.
Very rarely, the capsule can become stuck in the digestive tract due to a blockage or narrowing of the intestines. In this case, surgery may be required to remove the capsule.
You are at a higher risk of blockage if you have a history of bowel obstruction or previous gastrointestinal surgery — be sure to discuss the risks with your doctor before the procedure. If you cannot positively confirm that the capsule has been excreted from your body within a week, contact your gastroenterologist for an evaluation and possible abdominal X-ray to establish the location of the capsule.
You should not undergo a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination or be near any powerful magnetic fields (such as amateur or ham radio) until after the capsule is excreted. Doing so could result in serious damage to your intestinal tract and abdominal cavity.
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