Capsule Endoscopy

Hands holding a pill cam for capsule endoscopy procedure.

Capsule endoscopy is an outpatient procedure that allows your gastroenterologist to visualize the small intestine. This procedure is the standard of care for evaluating the small bowel.

Capsule endoscopy can aid in the early detection of disorders of the small intestine, such as gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, Crohn's disease, iron deficiency anemia, small bowel tumors, small bowel injury due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory use, and malabsorption disorders such as celiac disease.

Capsule endoscopy involves an ingestible capsule the size of a vitamin. It contains a tiny camera and light source that takes pictures of your small intestine as it travels naturally through your digestive tract. It takes 2 to 6 images per second, generating anywhere from 57,600 to 172,800 pictures in an eight-hour period. The images are then transmitted to a recorder that you wear on a strap across your body. Sensors placed on your stomach or in a sensor belt help transmit these images.

Capsule endoscopy can be used in children as young as 2 years old, making it an ideal tool for detecting GI disorders in both children and adults. After your doctor makes a diagnosis, they may monitor your disease over time and make changes to your treatment plan.

Patients with pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators, swallowing disorders, or diagnosed gastrointestinal obstructions or strictures are not candidates for this procedure.

How to Prepare for Capsule Endoscopy

The day before the test, you will be on a clear liquid diet the entire day. You will need to start the bowel prep at 3 pm. You should not eat or drink anything from 9 pm the night before the test until the appointment time. Your doctor will let you know if or when you should adjust or stop any medications you take. Capsule endoscopy does not require sedation or general anesthesia, so you do not need a driver to accompany you.

What to Expect

The morning of the capsule endoscopy, a nurse will fit you with a sensor belt and data recorder to wear for the eight hours of the test. This typically takes about 30 minutes. The sensor belt will be worn around your abdomen, while the recorder will be worn close to your waist.

Once you swallow the capsule endoscopy capsule, you can leave the endoscopy center and go about your normal activities. Most people do not feel any pain or discomfort when swallowing the capsule or while it passes through the body. You will be able to eat and drink four hours after ingesting the capsule, unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

After eight hours, you will return to the center to return the recorder and have the sensors removed. The images will be downloaded to a computer to be viewed and interpreted by the gastroenterologist. The capsule exits the body through a normal bowel movement within a day or two.

Capsule Endoscopy in Austin, TX

The capsule endoscopy is a groundbreaking way to diagnose small bowel conditions with precision and ease. At Austin Gastroenterology, our expert team offers this innovative, patient-friendly procedure to help uncover answers and guide your care. Take a step toward clarity and better health today. To schedule an appointment, you can send us a message on Klara or fill out our secure online appointment request form. We proudly serve our community from 18 convenient locations around the greater Austin area.