Capsule Endoscopy
A pill-sized camera that sees what other tests cannot.
What Is Capsule Endoscopy?
Capsule endoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure that uses a tiny wireless camera — about the size of a vitamin pill — to capture images of your digestive tract. You simply swallow the capsule, and as it moves naturally through your digestive system, it takes thousands of high-resolution photographs that are transmitted to a recorder you wear on a belt.
This technology is especially valuable for examining the small intestine, an area that is difficult to reach with traditional endoscopy or colonoscopy. The capsule passes naturally through your body and does not need to be retrieved.
Why Would I Need Capsule Endoscopy?
- Unexplained GI bleeding — when colonoscopy and upper endoscopy have not found a source
- Suspected small bowel tumors — detecting growths in the small intestine
- Crohn’s disease evaluation — assessing the extent and severity of small bowel involvement
- Celiac disease — visualizing characteristic changes in the small intestine
- Iron-deficiency anemia — searching for a source of blood loss in the small bowel
- Monitoring known conditions — following up on previously identified small bowel abnormalities
What to Expect
You will swallow the capsule with water in our office and wear a data recorder on a belt. The capsule takes pictures continuously as it moves through your digestive tract over approximately 8 hours. You can drink clear liquids after 2 hours and eat a light meal after 4 hours. Return the data recorder to our office and your physician will review the images at a follow-up appointment. The capsule passes naturally in your stool within 1 to 3 days.
Key Advantages
Completely non-invasive — no sedation, no incisions, and no recovery time. You can continue your normal daily activities while the capsule does its work. It provides views of the small intestine that are not possible with standard endoscopy.