What Is Capsule Endoscopy?

Capsule Endoscopy involves ingesting a small (the size of a large vitamin pill) imaging capsule which will pass naturally through your digestive system while taking pictures of the intestine. The images are transmitted to a sensor that is placed around your abdomen and worn for 8 hours. The capsule will be excreted naturally during a bowel movement. In the rare case that it will not excrete naturally, it will need to be removed endoscopically or surgically.

It is very important that the following instructions are followed exactly as outlined.

One week before the procedure:

• Stop taking iron supplements such as iron sulfate, iron gluconate and Niferex.
• Stop taking vitamin pills.
• Stop taking fiber supplements such as Metamucil, Citrucel, and Fibercon.

One day before the procedure:

• After lunch on the day before the procedure, start a clear liquid diet – no red or purple liquids. No solid foods, milk or milk products. Choices:
  Apple juice
  Sprite
  Ginger ale
  Fresca
  Tea and coffee (honey, sugar, sugar substitutes ok – no milk)
  Jell-O (no red or purple)
  Popsicles (orange, lemon-lime)
  Vitamin Water or Gatorade (orange, lemon-lime)
  Clear soup, broth (vegetable, beef or chicken)
  White grape juice
  Hard candy
• Drink one (1) quart of Miralax laxative the night before the procedure.
• Do not eat or drink after 10 p.m. on the day before the procedure.
• Abstain from smoking 24 hours prior to undergoing the procedure.
• Male patients need to shave their abdomen six inches above and below the navel on the day of the Capsule Endoscopy.

The day of the procedure:

• Arrive in the GI Clinic at 8 a.m.
• After ingesting the capsule do not eat or drink for at least two hours. After four hours you may have a light snack.
• Contact the office at 860-679-3238 immediately if you suffer from any abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
• Do not go near any source of powerful electromagnetic fields such as one created near an MRI device or amateur (Ham) radio.
• Keep track of your activities on the Capsule Endoscopy Event Form.
• Every 15 minutes, verify that the small light on top of the Data Recorder is blinking twice per second. If it stops blinking, record the time that it stopped and call the office at 860-679-3238.
• Avoid any strenuous activities and do not bend over or stoop while wearing the monitor.
• Come back to the GI Clinic at 4 p.m. to have the monitor taken off.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your procedure, please call 860-679-3238 at least 24 hours in advance.