Capsule endoscopy is one of the gentlest ways we have to look inside your digestive tract. You swallow a wireless camera about the size of a vitamin, and over the next several hours it travels through your system on its own, taking pictures the whole way. There is no sedation, no scope, and no recovery time.
This test is especially good at examining the small intestine, a long, winding section that is hard to reach with a standard upper endoscopy or colonoscopy. The capsule sends its images to a small recorder you wear on a belt, giving us a clear view of areas that other tests can miss.
We use capsule endoscopy to investigate hard-to-find sources of bleeding and to evaluate conditions such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and other inflammation of the small bowel. It can also help us look for polyps and signs of colorectal cancer.
How it works
The capsule is a tiny wireless camera that captures about 50,000 images as it moves naturally through your digestive tract. Those images stream to a recorder worn on a belt around your waist. As the capsule travels, it photographs the lining of your stomach and small intestine in detail, so your gastroenterologist can review the full journey afterward.
You will not feel the capsule moving. Most people forget it is even there.
When we recommend it
Capsule endoscopy is helpful when we need a closer look at the small intestine or want to track down a problem that standard tests have not explained. Common reasons include:
- Unexplained GI bleeding or anemia
- Suspected or known Crohn’s disease
- Evaluation of celiac disease
- Ulcerative colitis and other small-bowel inflammation
- Screening for polyps and colorectal cancer
How to prepare
Preparation is simple and similar to other GI procedures. Starting at noon the day before your test, you will switch to a clear-liquid diet. You will also complete a bowel prep, which cleans out the digestive tract so the camera gets the clearest possible images. We will give you written instructions ahead of time, and you can review our general procedure prep guidance as well. Let us know about any medications you take so we can advise you on what to pause.
What the day is like
Once you swallow the capsule, you are free to go about most of your normal activities. The capsule takes about 8 to 9 hours to pass through the digestive tract while the recorder collects its images. You will return to our office so we can remove the recorder and download the pictures for your gastroenterologist to review.
The capsule itself is single-use and disposable. It passes naturally and painlessly, usually within 24 to 48 hours, and you do not need to retrieve it.
When to see us
If you have ongoing digestive symptoms, unexplained bleeding, or a condition that affects your small intestine, capsule endoscopy may give us answers other tests cannot. It is also a comfortable option if you would prefer to avoid sedation.
The Gastroenterology Group is a team of board-certified gastroenterologists serving Akron and Massillon, Ohio. We welcome new patients. To find out whether capsule endoscopy is right for you, request an appointment online or call us at (330) 869-0954, and our team will help you take the next step.