PREPARATION
To ensure a successful exam, please follow all instructions carefully.
If you have diabetes, ask your regular doctor for diet and medication restrictions.
If you take aspirin, you may continue to do so.
If you are or may be pregnant, please discuss the risks and benefits of this procedure with your doctor.
If you are scheduled for an MRI: After ingesting the capsule and until it is excreted, you should not have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination or be near a MRI.
If you must cancel or reschedule your appointment, please call 612-871-1145 as soon as possible.
1 week before your exam:
• Discontinue medications containing iron. This includes multivitamins with iron
The day before your exam:
At noon, begin a clear liquid diet (NO red or purple liquids):
• Water
• Clear broth or bouillon
• Coffee or tea (without milk or non-dairy creamer)
• Gatorade®, Pedialyte®, or Powerade®
• Carbonated & non-carbonated soft drinks
• Kool-Aid or other fruit-flavored drinks
• Strained fruit juices (no pulp)
• Jell-O, popsicles and hard candy
10 hours before your exam:
• Stop drinking all liquids
The day of your exam:
• Do not take any of your morning medications. Our staff will discuss your medication schedule with you when you arrive.
• We will be placing electrodes on your abdomen. For your comfort, we recommend wearing loose fitting clothing.
• Male patients: Please shave your upper abdomen to pelvic line.
When you leave for your exam:
• Bring a photo ID as well as up-to-date insurance information, such as your insurance card and any referral forms that might be required by your insurance company.
• Co-pays are required on the day of your appointment
• You may drive yourself home after the procedure.
What is small bowel capsule endoscopy (PillCam SB)?
Small bowel capsule endoscopy enables your doctor to examine the three portions (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) of your small intestine. Your doctor will use a vitamin-sized pill video capsule as an endoscope, which has its own camera and light source. While the video capsule travels through your body, images are sent to a data recorder you will wear on a waist belt. Most patients consider the test comfortable. Afterwards, your doctor will view the images on a video monitor.
PillCam Endoscopy helps your doctor determine the cause for recurrent or persistent symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding or anemia, in most cases where other diagnostic procedures failed to determine the reason for your symptoms. In certain chronic gastrointestinal diseases, the method can help to evaluate the extent to which your small intestine is involved or to monitor the effect of therapeutics.
What should I expect during PillCam SB endoscopy?
The staff will prepare you for the examination by applying a sensor array to your abdomen with adhesive sleeves. The PillCam endoscope is ingested and passes naturally through your digestive tract while transmitting video images to a data recorder worn on a belt for approximately eight hours.
You will be able to eat four hours after swallowing the capsule ingestion unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. The capsule is disposable and passes naturally with your bowel movement. You should not feel any pain or discomfort during capsule excretion.
What should I expect after PillCam SB endoscopy?
At the end of the procedure, you will need to return to the office to return the equipment (waist belt, data recorder, battery pack & sensor array). The images acquired during your exam will be downloaded to a workstation for physician review. After the doctor has looked at this video, you will be contacted with the results. After ingesting the capsule and until it is excreted, you should not have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination or be near a MRI device.
What are the possible complications of PillCam SB endoscopy?
Although complications may occur, they are rare when staff are specially trained and experienced in this procedure perform the test. A potential risk could be retention of the capsule. It is important for you to recognize early signs of possible complications. If you have a fever after the test, trouble swallowing, increasing chest or abdominal pain, tell your doctor immediately.
For More Information:
Given Imaging PillCam SB
9/2009