Capsule endoscopy is a procedure in which you swallow a vitamin-sized capsule that takes thousands of images as it moves through your digestive system. CapsoCam Plus® is the only capsule endoscopy system that provides you total freedom and privacy during your procedure. All of the diagnostic data is stored onboard the capsule, so the exam is performed without belts, harnesses, wires or leads. You are free to go about your normal routine during the examination.
You can be sure that your doctor is getting more information, as CapsoCam Plus is the only capsule endoscope that captures a full 360° panoramic view of the walls of your intestine. This provides your doctor more comprehensive visualization, allowing for a more complete exam.
After the capsule passes through your digestive tract, you will collect the capsule using a specially designed capsule retrieval kit and then return the capsule to your physician. Your physician will download and view the images.
Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding
The most common reason that a capsule endoscopy might be performed is to evaluate obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
Patients who have unexplained iron deficiency anemia or who are bleeding from the GI tract will typically first be evaluated with a colonoscopy and an upper GI endoscopy (EGD). If neither the colonoscopy nor the EGD are able to identify the source of the bleeding, it is referred to as “obscure GI bleeding” or “suspected small bowel bleeding”.
Once a patient is suspected to have small bowel bleeding, a capsule endoscopy examination may be performed. Approximately 5% of all obscure GI bleeding emanates from the small bowel, these are most caused by small vascular lesions called angioectasias. Other causes of bleeding may include:
Crohn’s Disease
Capsule endoscopy may also be used in the examine for Crohn’s Disease. Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and weight loss.
Tumors
While less common, small bowel capsule endoscopy is also used to examine the small bowel for tumors.
Celiac Disease
Capsule endoscopy may be used to study patients with celiac disease.
Small bowel obstruction is a contraindication for capsule endoscopy. The CapsoCam Plus video capsule is contraindicated in patients:
“When given a choice, my patients prefer CapsoCam Plus. They can come in, swallow the capsule and resume their regular activities without anyone knowing that they are undergoing a procedure.”