Our practice utilizes two types of capsule procedures. PillCamTM and SmartPill. PillCam is capsule endoscopy and SmartPill is motility testing.
PillCam™ small bowel (SB) capsule
Capsule endoscopy is a revolutionary technology designed to examine the small bowel. The test involves swallowing a vitamin sized video camera capsule that takes multiple digital photos of the small bowel.
PillCam is a powerful medical device that is able to take clear and extremely useful photographs. The images are transmitted via sensors attached to the abdomen with adhesive stickers.
The small bowel is about 6 meters (or about 20 feet) long and the capsule takes approximately 8 hours to travel through it.
Capsule endoscopy helps your doctor evaluate the small intestine. This part of the bowel cannot be reached by traditional upper endoscopy or by colonoscopy. The most common reason for doing capsule endoscopy is to search for a cause of bleeding from the small intestine. It may also be useful for detecting polyps, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease), ulcers, and tumors of the small intestine.
The capsule does not need to be retrieved, you should pass the capsule naturally without any discomfort or difficulty and it can be flushed down the toilet.
For more information on PillCamTM please see the link below:
https://www.pillcamcrohns.com/crohns-disease