Capsule Endoscopy (Small Bowel)
What is Capsule Endoscopy of the Small Bowel?
Capsule endoscopy with the PillCam capsule enables your doctor to examine your entire small intestine. Your doctor will have you ingest a video capsule (with a glass of water) that has its own camera and light source. The video capsule can take 4 photos per second.
**You can move freely during the exam, which lasts about 8 hours.**
While the video capsule travels through your body, it sends images to a data recorder you wear close to your waist. Afterwards, your doctor will view the images on a video monitor.
What Can I Expect During the Capsule Endoscopy?
The doctor or nurse will prepare you for the examination by applying a sensor array to your abdomen with adhesive sleeves. The video capsule is swallowed with water and passes naturally through your digestive tract while transmitting video images to a data recorder that you will wear close to your waist.
You will be able to eat four hours after the capsule ingestion unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. The examination will be over approximately 8 hours after the capsule is ingested.
What Happens After the Procedure?
At the end of the procedure, the data recorder and senor array will be removed and the images acquired during your exam will then be downloaded to a workstation for your doctor to review. After ingesting the capsule and until it is excreted, you should not have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination or be in the vaccinity of an MRI machine.
When a Capsule Endoscopy May Be Needed: