What is a Capsule Endoscopy?
A sigmoidoscope is used to view the inside of the rectum and lower colon. A finger-sized thick tube with a camera at the end is inserted from the rectum, and images of the inner wall of the rectum and part of the colon can be seen on the monitor. It can be used to take a biopsy of the polyp or tumor and remove some polyps. However, a colonoscopy needs to be done to view the whole colon and remove all polyps or tumors. It is fairly safe but has a small risk of bowel tear, bleeding, and infection.
A colonoscope is similar to a sigmoidoscope but is longer and is used to examine the inner wall of the whole colon. It is inserted from the rectum, and the doctor can see the images of the entire colon on the monitor. Special surgical tools can be passed through the colonoscope to take a biopsy and remove polyps. Sedation is required. There is a small risk of bowel tears, bleeding, or infection after the procedure. It’s important to note this is the only colorectal prevention strategy offered.
This is the computed tomography scan of the colon. The person is asked to lie on a table of the CT scanner, which takes cross-sectional images of the colon. It is a non-invasive technique and does not require sedation. If any abnormalities are found, a colonoscopy needs to be done to remove the polyps or tumors.
A small tube is inserted in the rectum, and barium sulfate, a white chalky liquid, and air is pumped into the colon. The barium suspension lines the outer walls of the colon. X-ray images of the colon are then taken to reveal abnormalities on the inner wall of the colon. If any abnormalities are found, a colonoscopy needs to be done to remove the polyps or tumors.
These are done with the fecal sample and are totally safe. Fecal tests may not give confirmatory results but may suggest abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract, warranting further tests. A colonoscopy needs to be repeated if results are positive, indicating the presence of cancerous growth in the colon. There are three types of fecal tests:
- Fecal occult blood tests detect blood in the feces that is not visible to normal eyes through a chemical reaction.
- Fecal immunochemical tests detect blood through a specific immunochemical reaction of a protein in the blood and can detect hidden blood.
- Stool DNA tests look for certain abnormal DNA genes in the cells shed from cancerous outgrowth or polyps in the stool sample.
Capsule Endoscopy is a test that lets your doctor examine the lining of the middle part of your gastrointestinal tract, which includes the three portions of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum). Your doctor will give you a pill-sized video camera for you to swallow. This camera has its own light source and takes pictures of your small intestine as it passes through. These pictures are either sent to a small recording device you have to wear on your body or stored in the capsule itself.
Your doctor will be able to view these pictures at a later time and might be able to provide you with useful information regarding your small intestine.
Capsule Endoscopy Prep and Procedure
- The day before your procedure, you will have a clear liquid diet. *Clear liquids consist of anything that you can “see through”. No pasta or vegetables in soups. No cream or milk in tea and/or coffee
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight before your procedure. Do not take any medications the morning of your test. You will be able to take them after you swallow the capsule (at 10:30am).
- If you are taking an iron supplement, we ask that you refrain from taking your dosage for 3 days prior to your procedure.
- Avoid wearing a dress or a one piece suit. Wear a separate top and a bottom so that an antenna belt can be fitted to your waist. Please wear a thin layer of clothing between the belt and your body (ie: undershirt, tank top). Please do not wear any perfume/cologne, scented lotions, powders.
- The recorder is placed in a pouch that you will wear across your chest.
- You may have clear liquids 2 hours after ingestion of the capsule and a light meal 4 hours after ingestion of the capsule. You may take any morning medications 2 hours after ingestion of the capsule (approximately 10:30am). For example, if you ingest the capsule at 8:30am, you have clear liquids at 10:30am and a light meal (ie: soup, sandwich, eggs and toast) at 12:30pm.
- There are a few procedural protocols that you will need to follow. No CT or MRI examinations, also limit your exposure to any magnetic fields. These can interfere with transmission of the data from the capsule. You may use wi-fi, microwaves, TV remotes, etc.
- Please inform the office if you have an implanted cardiac pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator.
- Return to the office at 4:30 pm for completion of your procedure.