More about Small Bowel Video Capsule Endoscopy

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Your doctor will give you specific instructions to prepare for the procedure.

You will swallow a vitamin-size capsule containing a miniature camera that travels through the digestive tract and takes thousands of pictures that are transmitted wirelessly to a data recorder that is worn on a belt around your waist.

Following the procedure, the doctor will review the images and look for any abnormalities in the small intestine.

The procedure is painless, does not require sedation and does not expose the patient to radiation.

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Small Bowel Video Capsule Endoscopy is diagnostic only and is not therapeutic.

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Generally, the procedure is performed after a CT (CTE) or MRI (MRE) confirm that there is no narrowing of the intestine, in order to reduce the risk of the capsule becoming stuck in the digestive tract.

Your doctor might recommend performing a patency capsule a few days before the Small Bowel Video Capsule Endoscopy.

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In most cases, after swallowing the video capsule, patients will be able to go about their daily activities.

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It takes about 8-9 hours for the capsule to travel through the digestive tract and the disposable capsule is usually passed out painlessly with a bowel movement within 1-2 days.