Areas Examined & Treated |
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| Areas |
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The Procedure |
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Capsule Endoscopy |
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| Diagnostic |
Capsule endoscopy is a test where one is required to swallow a vitamin-sized pill, which is then utilized to record thousands of images on its way through the digestive tract. |
Before Your Procedure |
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Schedule Your Procedure |
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| Appointment | Schedule your procedure appointment with GastroDoxs by phone @ 832-632-4070 or in the office |
| Location | The procedure is performed in our clinic |
| Insurance | If any prior authorization is required for the procedure, our office will obtain the required authorization |
| Financial | GastroDoxs procedure fees will be collected when you schedule your procedure |
| Changes | To cancel or reschedule, call or text GastroDoxs @ 832-632-4070 |
The Day Before Your Procedure |
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| Cleaning | Your small bowel is mandatory for the best visualization |
| Foods | Clear liquid diet |
| Medication |
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Procedure Day |
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| Foods | No food or liquids on the procedure day except water, medication, Miralax or Mylicon |
| Medication |
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| Arrival | Arrive at the office for your procedure at your scheduled time |
| Ingestion | When you arrive you will be asked to swallow the CapsoCam |
| Retrieval |
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| Mailing |
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After You Ingest the Capsule |
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| Foods |
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| Medication |
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After Your Procedure |
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| Foods | You may resume your normal diet the day after the procedure |
| Medications | Resume normal medication schedule the day after the procedure |
| Retrieval | It is extremely important to use the hat container to retrieve the capsule |
| Mailing | Follow the instructions to mail the capsule |
| No Capsule Located or Retrieved | Call our office after 72 hours if the capsule has not passed |
| Appointment | Ensure that you have a follow-up 2-3 weeks after the procedure |
| Results |
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| Questions | Call or text GastroDoxs @ 832-632-4070 |
Capsule endoscopy is used to diagnose and evaluate conditions affecting the small intestine that may not be easily seen through traditional endoscopy or colonoscopy. It helps detect causes of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, Crohn’s disease, tumors, celiac disease, polyps, ulcers, and other abnormalities in the digestive tract.
In a capsule endoscopy, you swallow a small capsule containing a wireless camera that travels through your digestive tract. As it moves, the camera captures thousands of images, which are transmitted to sensors attached to your abdomen and later reviewed by your physician to identify any abnormalities.
No. Capsule endoscopy is completely painless and non-invasive. You simply swallow the capsule like a vitamin pill, and it passes naturally through your digestive system without causing discomfort.
The entire process takes about 8 hours from the time you swallow the capsule until it passes through your system. You can go about your normal daily activities during this time while the device records images of your digestive tract.
The capsule is naturally excreted in your stool within 24–48 hours. After the procedure, you can resume normal eating and activities. Your doctor will review the captured images to check for any abnormalities or signs of disease.
If you have difficulty swallowing the capsule, your doctor can place it directly into your small intestine using an endoscope. If this is not possible, imaging tests may be performed first to ensure that there is no blockage before proceeding.
Capsule endoscopy is non-invasive, painless, and does not require sedation. It provides detailed, high-quality images of the small intestine, helping doctors identify conditions that are difficult to detect using traditional methods.
While capsule endoscopy is generally safe, potential disadvantages include the risk of the capsule getting stuck in the digestive tract (especially if a narrowing exists), limited control of camera movement, and incomplete imaging if the battery runs out before the capsule exits the body.
There are several types of capsule endoscopy designed for different parts of the digestive system, including small bowel, esophageal, and colon capsule endoscopy. Each type targets specific areas and is used for specialized diagnostic purposes.
