What is Capsule Endoscopy (CE)?
Capsule Endoscopy enables a gastroenterologist to examine the three portions of the small intestine, the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The gastroenterologist will use a pill-sized video capsule (11 millimeters by 25 millimeters) as an endoscope, which has its own lens and light source. While the video capsule travels through your body, images are sent to a data recorder worn on a belt. Afterwards, a doctor will view the images on a video monitor, which usually takes 1-2 hours. Capsule Endoscopy helps to determine the cause of recurrent or persistent symptoms, such as diarrhea, bleeding, anemia, or abdominal pain after an (EGD), or after a colonoscopy has been performed without a diagnosis being found. In certain chronic gastrointestinal diseases, CE can also help to evaluate disease extent or check healing after therapeutic intervention. An empty stomach allows for the best examination, so patients should have nothing to eat or drink, including water, for approximately 8-12 hours before
