Having a video capsule endoscopy
Read our guide below to understand what to expect from a video capsule endoscopy and how to prepare for your appointment.
You can also download a PDF version of this patient information by following the link on the right.
What is video capsule endoscopy?
You’ve been referred by your consultant for a capsule endoscopy. This procedure involves swallowing a small capsule, roughly the size of a large vitamin pill, which you swallow with a drink of water.
The capsule contains a video camera with flash, battery, transmitter and antenna to transmit the pictures of your intestine. They’re enclosed in a 26mm long and 11mm wide capsule. This capsule passes naturally through your digestive system.
The images transmit to sensors placed on your abdomen. The sensors attach to a small data recorder worn on a belt around your waist that saves all the images. You wear the equipment for 8 hours come back to hospital where we’ll remove it.
What happens to the capsule?
It’s disposable and will pass naturally in your bowel movement.
To help us to get the most accurate information from this examination, follow the instructions below
Please note if you take iron supplements, stop doing so one week before the procedure.
Advice for patients with diabetes who need a capsule endoscopy
This information is in addition to the instructions you’ve received.
As a diabetic, you’re at an increased risk of developing a low level of blood sugar when you don’t eat for a prolonged period, called a ‘hypo.’ You may have symptoms such as sweating, shaking, and blurred vision.
Have additional sugary/glucose drinks at home such as Lucozade. If you think you are having a ‘hypo’, have a glucose drink or take 3 glucose tablets immediately.
Situations or conditions when this procedure isn’t suitable
You should not have this procedure if you have:
- a swallowing disorder
- a concern for aspiration, for example, due to cognitive or neurological deficits, history of aspiration or children under the age of 8 years
- a pacemaker, ICD, cardiac device or any internal body electronic device
- suspected or known intestinal strictures or you may be at increased risk for bowel obstruction. If this happens you may need bowel decompression or surgical intervention, if symptoms persist
- suspected or known gastrointestinal obstruction or fistulas
- retained the patency capsule.
You should not have an MRI scan while the capsule’s inside your body. This may result in serious damage to the intestinal tract or abdominal cavity.
The safety of this device has not been established in pregnancy.
Risks associated with the procedure
These include:
- capsule retention (some cases it may need to be removed surgically)
- capsule aspiration
- obstruction
- perforation
- mucosal injury or bleeding
- allergic reaction to capsule material or other medication given
- capsule malfunction and potential need to repeat the procedure (PillCam /Recorder / Sensor Belt)
- incomplete investigation or missed pathology.
Dysphagic / gastroparesis patients may need capsule endoscopic placement.
You may need to go into hospital for management of your symptoms.
How to prepare for your capsule endoscopy
The day before the procedure, you should:
- start a clear fluid diet after lunch on the day before your examination. For example,clear soup (no solids in it), water, black tea, black coffee, clear juice (no red or purple drinks, no milk and no alcohol).
- not eat or drink anything from 10pm on the evening before the capsule endoscopy.
On the day of the capsule endoscopy, you should:
- take your usual medications up until 2 hours before the test with a sip of water. If you’re diabetic or you have any queries contact the endoscopy department
- arrive in the Endoscopy unit at the time given on your appointment letter. Your appointment time is the time you should arrive in the unit, not the time of your actual procedure
- wear loose-fitting, two-piece clothing. The sensor belt will be applied to your abdomen and will be connected to the data recorder. You will then be asked to swallow the capsule.
The video capsule endoscopy service is nurse led. When you arrive, a nurse will fill out an assessment form with you and take your consent for video capsule endoscopy.
After swallowing the capsule
Once you’ve swallowed the capsule and it’s reached your small bowel, you can leave the hospital and return at 5pm.
Then you must not eat or drink for at least two hours after swallowing the capsule. The capsule nurse will give you all the instructions. After this time you can have clear fluids.
After 4 hours you can have a light snack (for example, a sandwich)
Once the examination is complete you can return to your normal diet.
After the procedure, check your bowel motions for the capsule. If after 2 weeks, you haven’t seen the capsule pass, then an x-ray can identify if you’ve retained the capsule.
After swallowing the capsule and until it’s excreted, you shouldn’t be near any source of powerful electromagnetic fields such as one created near an MRI device or amateur (ham) radio.
Occasionally, some images may be lost due to radio interference (for example, from an amateur radio transmitter, MRI). On rare occasions this may result in the need to repeat the capsule endoscopy examination.
Check the blue flashing data recorder light approximately every 30 minutes to be sure that it’s blinking twice per second. If it stops or changes colour, call the Endoscopy unit on 01494 425073 (Wycombe Hospital) or 01296 315220 (Stoke Mandeville).
How long does a capsule endoscopy last?
Approximately 8 hours. It’s considered complete after this time. Don’t disconnect the equipment or remove the belt at any time during this period.
Since the data recorder is actually a small computer, it should be treated with care. Avoid sudden movement and banging of the data recorder.
After completing your capsule endoscopy
You’ll need to return to the Endoscopy unit 8 hours after swallowing the capsule to have the equipment removed. Don’t try to remove the sensors yourself as they’re easily damaged.
If you’re not sure whether or not the capsule has passed out of your body and you develop unexplained nausea, abdominal pain or vomiting, call the Endoscopy unit on 01494 425073 (Wycombe Hospital) or 01296 315220 (Stoke Mandeville).
Undergoing an MRI while the capsule’s inside your body may result in serious damage to your intestinal tract or abdominal cavity. If you do need an MRI scan and can’t positively verify the excretion of the capsule from your body, contact your doctor. You may need an x-ray to check if the capsule is still in the intestine.
When will I get the results?
We’ll send the results to the doctor who referred you within a couple of weeks after the video of your test has been created and reviewed.
Contact us
Call the Video Capsule Endoscopy Specialist Nurse from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm on 01494 425073 (Wycombe) or 01296315220 (Stoke Mandeville) for any queries or concerns.
If you need admission to hospital for any reason within 48 hours of taking a video capsule, bring this leaflet to show the medical team.