Capsule Endoscopy is performed as an inpatient procedure on patients who show signs of chronic stomach pain and bleeding in bowel movements. The procedure involves inserting a tiny camera fitted in a capsule into the small intestine to diagnose any swelling, extra growth and bleeding in the intestine. The entire Capsule Endoscopy procedure takes eight hours to complete when you notice the capsule in excreta after a bowel movement.
Overview
Capsule Endoscopy procedure uses a tiny camera in a small capsule that is swallowed by the patient. After the capsule reaches your stomach it takes images of the internals of your gastrointestinal tract. It is a way of recording minute details of the inside of the small intestine, which is not so successfully possible with traditional endoscopic procedures.
The procedure is best advised for patients on whom a colonoscopy couldn’t be performed. Therefore, using Capsule Endoscopy, it is feasible to examine the colon for colon polyps. Generally, the reasons for a capsule endoscopy are gastrointestinal bleeding, tumours in small intestine, diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases, polyps and celiac diseases.
It is indeed a safe procedure, except the capsule may get lodged in the digestive tract in case of an exception. Least to worry, the capsule can be removed by the top gastroenterologist through surgery.
Once the camera in the capsule captures images of the insides of your small intestine, it transmits the pictures wirelessly to a frequency band worn by the patient. All the images are then sent to a computer for display, review and diagnosis. Before a capsule endoscopy procedure, you need a few preparations.
Before the Treatment
- You are advised by your doctor to stop drinking or eating anything at least 12 hours before the procedure. This is done to ensure that the camera entering your digestive tract captures every image accurately.
- The doctor generally advices you to avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting job after swallowing the capsule. Still, if you have an active job, consult with your doctor if you can continue heavy activities for the rest of day.
- Your gastroenterologist may suggest you to stop taking certain medicines that may interfere with the camera. However, in some cases, you are suggested to take your normal medications at least a couple of hours before undergoing the procedure.
- Sometimes, patients are asked to have a laxative to clear their bowels. This ensures better and quality pictures taken by the capsule camera. After you follow these advices, you are ready to undergo the procedure.
How is it performed
On the day of capsule endoscopic procedure, you are given adhesive patches that are attached to your abdomen. An antenna present in each patch is connected to a recorder through wires, which is worn like a belt round your waist. Once the recorder is readied, you are asked to swallow the capsule that has a slippery surface making it easier to gulp it down the throat.
The capsule travels through your gastrointestinal tract into the small intestine. The images captured are sent to the antenna attached to your abdomen that transfers data to the recorder. The recorder is later connected to a computer to view those images.
There is no uneasiness or discomfort after you swallow the capsule. On the advice of the gastroenterologist, you are allowed to have a light snack after four hours of swallowing the capsule. Besides, you can continue doing normal activities of the day, but heavy or strenuous activities should be avoided.
The procedure takes eight hours to complete after which the patient sees the capsule in the toilet after passing it out from the body. After you are done, remove the patches from your abdomen and pack the recorder in a bag and hand it over to the doctor. Your doctor evaluates the images and determines whether you have any disease in the intestine.
Recovery
Capsule endoscopy is a painless procedure unless the camera capsule gets lodged in your intestine. After swallowing the capsule, you feel nothing at all. Once the procedure is complete and the capsule passes out from your body through a bowel movement, you feel the same as before.
Things turn complicated once the capsule gets stuck inside the digestive tract for which a surgery is required. The only thing is that you are suggested to refrain from running and jogging or from other strenuous activities during the eight long hours during which the capsule is inside your body. Indeed, the recovery of capsule endoscopy is quick, safe and risk free.
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