Medical test | Read about Capsule endoscopy
Medical test about - Capsule endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy is a procedure that uses a tiny wireless camera to take pictures of your digestive tract. A capsule endoscopy camera sits inside a vitamin-sized capsule that you swallow. As the capsule travels through your digestive tract, the camera takes thousands of pictures that are transmitted to a recorder you wear on a belt around your waist.
Capsule endoscopy helps doctors see inside your small intestine — an area that isn't easily reached with more-traditional endoscopy procedures. Traditional endoscopy involves passing a long, flexible tube equipped with a video camera down your throat or through your rectum. Capsule endoscopy is usually initiated in your doctor's office.
Capsule endoscopy is sometimes referred to as capsule enteroscopy or small bowel endoscopy.
Capsule endoscopy helps your doctor see inside your small intestine. Your small intestine, located between your stomach and your colon, can be difficult to reach with traditional endoscopy procedures and imaging tests.
Situations in which your doctor might recommend a capsule endoscopy procedure include:
To prepare for your capsule endoscopy, your doctor may ask that you:
In some cases, your doctor may ask you to take a laxative preparation prior to your capsule endoscopy in order to flush out your small intestine. This has been shown to improve the quality of the pictures collected by the capsule's camera.
Follow your doctor's instructions in preparing for your capsule endoscopy. Failure to follow the directions may mean your capsule endoscopy may need to be rescheduled.
During capsule endoscopy On the day of your capsule endoscopy, your health care team will meet with you to review what will be done during the procedure. You may be asked to remove your shirt so that several adhesive patches can be attached to your abdomen. Each patch contains an antenna with wires that connect to a recorder. Some devices don't require the patches attached to your skin. You wear the recorder on a special belt around your waist. As the camera capsule passes through your intestine taking pictures, the images are transmitted to an antenna on your abdomen, which feeds the data to the recorder. The recorder collects and stores the images.
Once the recorder is connected and ready, your health care team will give you a glass of water and instruct you to swallow the camera capsule. The capsule is about the size of a large vitamin pill. A slippery coating makes it easier to swallow.
You may feel the capsule as you swallow it. But once it has passed beyond your throat, you won't feel it as it moves through your body.
You'll then be allowed to go about your day. You can drive and you may be able to go back to work, depending on your job. Your doctor will discuss any restrictions with you. For instance, you may be asked to avoid strenuous exercise or any activity that disrupts the recorder.
After the capsule endoscopy Wait two hours after you swallow the capsule to resume drinking clear liquids. Four hours after you swallow the capsule, you can have a light lunch or a snack. The capsule will be far enough along in your digestive system that eating and drinking won't interfere with the pictures.
The capsule endoscopy procedure is complete after eight hours or when you see the camera capsule in the toilet after a bowel movement, whichever comes first. Remove the antenna patches and the recorder. Pack them in a bag and follow your doctor's instructions for returning the equipment.
You don't need to collect the camera capsule — it can be safely flushed down the toilet.
Your body may expel the camera capsule within hours, or it may be expelled after several days. Each person's digestive system is different. If you don't see the capsule in the toilet within two weeks, contact your doctor. An X-ray may be done to see if the capsule is still in your body.
The camera used in capsule endoscopy takes thousands of color photos as it passes through your digestive tract. The images saved on the recorder are transferred to a computer with special software that strings the images together to create a video. Your doctor watches the video to look for abnormalities within your digestive tract.
It may take a few days to a week to receive the results of your capsule endoscopy. Your doctor will then share the results with you.
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