Capsule Endoscopy Procedure
Capsule endoscopy allows gastroenterologists to examine the lining of your small intestine (mucosa). Unlike a gastroscopy or colonoscopy, a capsule endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows Dr. Coovadia to evaluate the middle of your gastrointestinal tract, including the three portions of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum).
You will be given a pill-sized (size of a vitamin tablet) video camera to swallow. This tiny camera has its own light source, battery, and radio transmitter so it takes video images of your small intestine as it passes through.
This camera takes two pictures per second for a sixteen-hour period. These images are sent to a small recording device that is worn on the waist of the patient who is undergoing capsule endoscopy. The patient can freely move during the examination. At the end of the procedure (after 16 hours), you will return to the office and the data recorder and sensor device will be removed. Dr. Coovadia will download these images later and interpret them into useful information about your small intestine. The capsule normally passes into the toilet and does not need to be retrieved.
Capsule endoscopy helps to evaluate the health of your small intestine. It can help determine the cause for symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bleeding, or iron deficiency anaemia. Several gastrointestinal disorders including bleeding, polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, and tumours can originate within the small bowel. Capsule endoscopy is the only way to reach this part of your digestive tract without surgery or other invasive procedures. The most common reason for capsule endoscopy is to search for a source of bleeding (Arteriovenous malformations, ulcers, etc). The procedure also is useful for detecting signs of inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease), ulcers and tumours.
You will need to undergo bowel preparation prior to your examination to improve the quality of the images obtained during the capsule endoscopy. Please refer to the small bowel capsule instructions for full information regarding the preparation prior to the exam.
You may drink clear liquids two hours after ingesting the capsule and eat a light meal four hours thereafter. You should avoid vigorous physical activity, such as running or jumping, during the exam — that is, for the sixteen hours the capsule is actively recording.
After you ingest the capsule — and until you pass it, you should not go near an MRI device. It will show up on an X-ray, which is harmless, but within the powerful magnets of an MRI machine, the capsule could pose a hazard.
Our doctors can explain the test results to you within the week of the procedure; however, the results of the test might take longer.
Although complications can occur, they are extremely rare when the test is conducted by specially trained and experienced gastroenterologist. However, there can be limitations and complication with its use which may include the following:
- Bowel obstruction
The most serious complication is if the capsule gets stuck inside your digestive tract in an area of narrowing resulting in a bowel obstruction. This may require surgical removal. This can happen in a stricture (narrowing), of your digestive tract from inflammation, prior surgery, or tumour. It is important to recognize the symptoms of intestinal obstruction early. Symptoms include unusual bloating, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. Other complications include developing a fever after the test, having trouble swallowing or experiencing chest pain. Contact Dr. Coovadia’s team immediately if you experience any such symptoms. - Slow transit
Sometimes the capsule moves slowly through the bowel and does not examine the entire small bowel before the battery dies. - Missed Lesions
There can be irregularities in areas of the small intestine that can be missed either because of inconclusive imaging or rapid transit time through the suspected area.