Capsule Endoscopy

Preparing for a Capsule Endoscopy

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 6 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.

During the Test

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 Endoscopy Bowel Capsule

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 hospital, 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.

In 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. 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:

• 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.