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 esophagus and 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 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
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:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Anemia and bleeding
- Bowel function
- Abdominal pain
- Tumors and some cancers
- Celiac sprue
- Crohn’s disease
Your gastroenterologist may also use a capsule endoscopy to monitor the progress of treatment plans for these conditions. If your doctor detects a serious problem in your esophagus, you may need to undergo a conventional endoscopy to confirm diagnosis and, possibly, to receive treatment.
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 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.
- On the day of your test, come to your doctor’s office dressed in loose fitting, two piece clothing. Your gastroenterologist, or a member of the 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
Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy
Before beginning the test, a member of the medical team will place sensors on your chest using adhesive patches. These sticky patches are connected by wires to a recording device, which you will wear around your waist during the entire procedure.
When you are ready to begin, you will swallow the video capsule with water while lying flat on your back. Every two minutes for six minutes you will be raised by 30 degrees until you are sitting upright; you will remain upright for an additional 15 minutes to make sure the capsule has traveled the length of the esophagus. Sitting up gradually slows the movement of the capsule, allowing time for extra pictures to be taken.
During the test, the small light on the data recorder will blink to confirm that it is receiving data.
After 20 minutes, the test is complete and the sensors will be removed. You are then free to leave the office while your doctor begins downloading and analyzing the information from the data recorder.
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 or the hosp