Capsule endoscopy

Capsule endoscopy, sometimes called video capsule endoscopy, capsule camera endoscopy, or a pill camera test, uses a tiny camera to take thousands of pictures inside your digestive tract. You’ll swallow a vitamin-sized capsule containing the camera, which moves through your esophagus (food tube), stomach, and small intestine, sending images to a recorder worn on your body. This helps doctors find problems that can’t be seen in standard endoscopy or colonoscopy.

Penn Medicine uses advanced endoscopic interventions and imaging technologies to diagnose conditions of the digestive tract. Our specialized gastrointestinal (GI) team performs a high volume of capsule endoscopy procedures and integrates your results with other state-of-the-art tests, ensuring a clear, thorough evaluation

You may be a candidate for capsule endoscopy if you have unexplained bleeding, ongoing abdominal pain, iron-deficiency anemia, or suspected small-bowel inflammation. It’s also used to monitor conditions like Crohn’s disease and celiac disease or to evaluate abnormal imaging or lab results when other tests have not provided answers.

Your care team will provide instructions for the day before the procedure, which may include a brief fasting period. At the appointment, sensors or a small recorder belt will be placed on your abdomen. Then you’ll swallow the pill-like capsule that contains the camera, using a sip of water. The capsule has a smooth, rounded surface, making it easy for most people to ingest.

You can leave the clinical setting soon after you swallow the capsule and resume most of your normal activities while the device records images for about eight hours. Then you will return the sensor device or recorder belt so your care team can review the images.

There’s no sedation, no downtime, and no pain involved with the procedure, so recovery is minimal. You may return to eating and other usual activities as instructed by your doctor. The capsule is single use; it passes naturally in a bowel movement and can be safely flushed down the toilet. Your care team will contact you after they’ve examined the captured images and discuss any next steps with you.