Capsule Endoscopy

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 a second to a recording device worn around your waist. The capsule will not be absorbed or digested, but 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

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Capsule endoscopy provides your doctor with images of your digestive system that cannot be captured with conventional X-rays. Your gastroenterologist will use the images transmitted by the capsule to diagnose and evaluate a variety of conditions, including:

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• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

• Diarrhea

• Polyps

• Anemia and bleeding

• Bowel function

• Malabsorption

• Abdominal pain

• Tumors and some cancers

• Celiac sprue

• Crohn’s disease

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Preparing for the Test

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There are important steps you must take to safely prepare for and participate in the procedure, including:

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• 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 esophageal capsule endoscopy, you must fast for two hours.

• 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.

• Do not smoke for 24 hours before the test.

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Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy

 

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.

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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 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.
 

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. While it is important to know that the capsule has in fact exited your system, 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:

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• Develop a fever after swallowing the capsule

• Have trouble swallowing

• Begin to vomit

• Experience increasing chest or abdominal pain

 

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.​