Overview

Capsule endoscopy is a diagnostic test that doesn't hurt and lets doctors examine the small intestine, which is hard to see with standard endoscopy. You have to swallow a small capsule containing a camera, a light, and a transmitter. The capsule takes thousands of pictures as it moves through the digestive system and wirelessly sends them to a recording device the person wears. A specialist looks at the pictures again later. The main use of capsule endoscopy is to check for bleeding, inflammation, tumours, or other problems in the small bowel. It doesn't need sedation or tools that go inside the body.

Why it’s Done
Capsule endoscopy is performed when people have unexplained bleeding in the stomach, chronic anaemia, suspected Crohn's disease, or small intestinal tumours that can't be seen with regular upper endoscopy or colonoscopy. It is especially helpful for examining parts of the digestive tract that are otherwise hard to reach. The goal is to make the diagnosis as accurate as possible with as little pain as possible.

What to Expect?
Patients are asked to fast for several hours before the procedure to ensure clear images. In some cases, it may be best to prepare the bowel. The patient swallows the capsule with water during the test and wears a data recorder on a belt. Most of the time, you can keep doing your normal daily activities, but you should avoid heavy exercise. The capsule naturally moves through the digestive tract and takes pictures for about 8 hours. It is excreted in the stool without causing any pain. After the procedure, the clinic retrieves the recording device to review the images. Patients should tell their doctor if they have stomach pain or trouble passing gas.

Recovery & Outlook
There are no sedation or cuts, so recovery happens right away. Most patients go back to their normal activities the same day. Capsule endoscopy is a safe and highly accurate way to detect problems in the small intestine.