What is Capsule Endoscopy?

Did you know that a standard gastroscopy and colonoscopy is only able to visualise approximately 50% of the gastrointestinal tract?

A standard gastroscopy can visualise the oesophagus, stomach and the first 25 to 30 centimetres of the small intestine.

Similarly, a colonoscopy is able to visualise the final 25 to 30 centimetres. This leaves about four and a half metres of small bowel that is unseen.

So, how do we visualise the remainder of the small bowel you ask? Well, this is where a fantastic innovation called capsule endoscopy comes into play.

Capsule endoscopy is typically performed in a doctor's rooms. It involves swallowing a small pill-sized camera that transits through the entire gastrointestinal tract, capturing high-resolution images as it travels. These images are then transmitted to a recording device worn on a belt around your waist.

Once you have swallowed the capsule, you are able to go about your daily life until you return the recording device 12 hours later. And don't worry, you don't need to return the pill. It will pass naturally in your bowel motion and can be flushed down the toilet, saving you from any, shall I say, sticky situations. If you can't swallow the pill or have altered anatomy that prohibits its safe passage into the small intestine, it can be placed directly via gastroscopy.

So, when do you need a capsule endoscopy?

Well, it's primarily used to diagnose conditions affecting the small intestine, such as ulcers, small bleeding vessels called angiodysplasia, Crohn's disease, or small bowel tumours. This then allows your doctor to identify the best means of treating your underlying condition.

Capsule endoscopy has come a long way in recent years, with newer devices providing high-resolution images, 360-degree views, and AI-assisted technology that increases the sensitivity of picking up abnormalities.

Once you return the recording device, your doctor will review the video footage and make recommendations on how best to treat any identified pathology.

Additional videos on a range of common conditions are available to view on the Gastroenterology Specialist Care YouTube channel.

Note, this video is not a medical consultation. Any medical information is general in nature and is not intended to provide individual clinical advice. You should contact your doctor or other healthcare professional in relation to any concerns they may have, as your own circumstances may be different.

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