Capsule Endoscopy
A capsule endoscopy is a procedure that uses a tiny, wireless camera to take thousands of pictures of the small intestines to help detect any problems. It is designed like a vitamin-sized capsule with a little camera inside. As you swallow the capsule, the camera begins to take pictures of your digestive tract, transmitting the images onto a recorder that you wear around your waist or abdomen as it travels naturally through your digestive tract.
This innovative technology allows your doctor to recognize any potential abnormalities inside of your small intestine, for example, related to:
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Crohn's disease
- Iron deficiency anemia
Images captured in the recorder during your procedure will be downloaded from the recorder to a computer and your doctor will view them in a color video. Afterwards, you will be contacted with the results.
The capsule is disposable and passes naturally with your bowel movement.
Patient's should let their doctor know of a medical history including:
- A pacemaker device
- Previous abdominal surgery
- Difficulty swallowing
- History of obstructions in the gastrointestinal tract
- Known strictures or fistulas of the intestines