Capsule Endoscopy in Kansas City, MO
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Find a ProviderWhat is a small bowel capsule endoscopy?
A small bowel capsule endoscopy is an endoscopic procedure wherein a pill-sized capsule (which contains a camera and battery) is swallowed by the patient and is then used to take numerous pictures of the small bowel or intestine. Around 60,000 images are taken, which when compiled, provide a "movie" of the small bowel.
At Digestive Health Specialists, a small bowel pill endoscopy procedure is typically conducted to identify the cause of unexplained bleeding or anemia. It may be employed to visualize the small intestine to further evaluate an atypical x-ray, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. Call our gastroenterologists in Kansas City, MO to schedule a capsule endoscopy to help ensure your intestinal health is protected.
What should I expect before my capsule endoscopy?
You will receive instructions from your GI specialist in regard to the required way to prepare for your capsule endoscopy. The majority of patients will be allowed to eat normally the day before the procedure. You will receive instructions to refrain from consuming anything after 7 p.m. the night prior to your capsule endoscopy. It is of the utmost importance to adhere to the instructions provided to you by your specialist. There will likely also be supplemental directions in regard to your medications. In the majority of situations, your medications will be resumed as usual a few hours following ingestion of the pill capsule. However, in specific circumstances, especially in patients on blood thinners (such as anti-inflammatories, aspirin, warfarin, Coumadin®, Plavix®) and in diabetics, specialized instructions will be provided.
What should I expect on the day of the capsule endoscopy procedure?
You will be asked to enter the office or endoscopy center 30 minutes prior to your procedure. This is to provide time to complete paperwork and any preparation for the capsule endoscopy procedure. You will be directed to wear a vest that holds the monitors, which will receive the transmitted images. After the vest is placed on, the pill capsule will be activated and then you will swallow it.
After the capsule is ingested, you may leave the endoscopy unit. You will wear the vest for the subsequent eight hours. You will be allowed to drink clear liquids after two hours have elapsed after the exam and can eat a normal meal after four hours. After eight hours, you will return to the endoscopy unit and the vest can be removed. To find out more about having a capsule endoscopy in Kansas City, MO, please book a consultation with one of our gastroenterologists at your earliest convenience.
When will I get my results from my capsule endoscopy?
When the procedure is complete, the images obtained from the capsule will be downloaded to a software program that creates a "movie" of your small bowel. It can take your physician several hours to carefully view this "movie." Results are generally available within a week. You will be contacted by the doctor's office with your results.
What are the risks of a capsule endoscopy?
In general, the small bowel capsule endoscopy is a very safe procedure. Overall, complications occur in less than 1% of patients. Typically these complications are not life-threatening; however, in the event that a complication does arise, it may require a hospital stay and/or surgery. Prior to the exam, a consent form will be discussed with the patient by the Digestive Health Specialists nursing staff.
One possible risk is that the pill capsule could become stuck in the intestine, creating a blockage. This would likely lead to surgery and a hospital stay.
It is very important to contact your doctor's office with no delay if symptoms develop following the capsule endoscopy, like increasing abdominal pain, fever, or bleeding.
Like any other process, a small bowel capsule endoscopy is not perfect. There is a slight, acknowledged risk that abnormalities, including cancers, can be missed during the exam. It is vital to maintain follow-ups with your doctor as advised and to make them aware of any ongoing or new symptoms.
What are alternatives to a small bowel capsule endoscopy?
To some degree, the alternatives to the test will rely upon the cause of needing a small bowel capsule endoscopy to begin with. In most cases, esophagogastroduodenoscopy is the most effective approach to evaluate irregularities in the small bowel. However, an x-ray referred to as a small-bowel-follow-through may be used to examine the small intestine as well. An enteroscopy exam can also be used to evaluate the upper portion of the small bowel and may also be used for therapy.
Noninvasive treatment to assist you
To schedule an examination of your small bowel in a nonsurgical way, connect with us for an appointment at Digestive Health Specialists. Capsule endoscopy in Kansas City, MO is just one of the methods in which our gastrointestinal specialists will do all that they can to make certain your health is maintained throughout all stages of life.
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