Capsule Endoscopy enables your doctor to examine the
three portions of your small intestine. Your doctor will use a
vitamin-pill sized video capsule as an endoscope, which has its own
camera and light source. While the video capsule travels through
your body, images are sent to a data recorder you will wear on a
waist belt. Most patients consider the test comfortable.
Afterwards, your doctor will view the images on a video
monitor.
Why Is Capsule Endoscopy Performed?
Capsule Endoscopy helps your doctor determine the cause for
recurrent or persistent symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea,
bleeding or anemia, in most cases where other diagnostic procedures
failed to determine the reason for your symptoms. In certain
chronic gastrointestinal diseases, the method can also help to
evaluate the extent to which your small intestine is involved or
monitor the effect of therapeutics. Your doctor might use Capsule
Endoscopy to obtain data such as gastric or small bowel passage
time.
How Should I Prepare for the Procedure?
You will receive accurate preparation instructions the day
before the examination. An empty stomach allows optimal viewing
conditions, so you should have nothing to eat or drink, including
water, for approximately ten hours before the examination. Your
doctor will tell you when to start fasting. Tell your doctor in
advance about any medications you take; you might need to adjust
your usual dose for the examination. Tell your doctor of the
presence of a pacemaker, previous abdominal surgery, swallowing
problem or previous history of obstructions in the bowel.
What Can I Expect During Capsule Endoscopy?
Your doctor will prepare you for the examination by applying a
sensor array to your abdomen with adhesive sleeves. The capsule
endoscope is ingested and passes naturally through your digestive
tract while transmitting video images to a data recorder worn on a
belt for approximately eight hours. You will be able to eat after
four hours following the capsule ingestion unless your doctor
instructs otherwise.
What Happens After Capsule Endoscopy?
At the end of the procedure, you will need to return to the
office to return the data recorder and sensor array. The images
acquired during your exam will be downloaded to a workstation for
physician review. After ingesting the capsule and until it is
excreted, you should not have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
examination or be near an MRI device.
How will I Know the Results of the Capsule Endoscopy?
After you return the equipment (waist belt, data recorder,
battery pack and sensor array), your doctor will process the
information from the data recorder and will view a color video of
the pictures taken from the capsule. After the doctor has looked at
this video, you will be contacted with the results.
Ask your physician about Capsule
Endoscopy at Lourdes.
