Patient Instructions for Undergoing Capsule Endoscopy

Your physician has determined that as part of your medical evaluation you should undergo an examination known as Capsule Endoscopy. This procedure involves swallowing a small (the size of a large vitamin pill) capsule, which will pass naturally through your digestive system while taking pictures of your intestine. The images are transmitted to the sensors, which are placed on your abdomen. The sensors are attached to a data recorder, which records the images. The data recorder and a battery are worn in a belt with suspenders around your waist during the entire examination. The recorder can record images for up to 8 hours. You will come into the hospital early in the morning to be fitted with this device, swallow the capsule and then leave the hospital for 8 hours to go about your normal daily activities. After the eight hours you will return to the hospital, we will remove the device and you may again leave. The capsule is disposable and will be excreted naturally in your bowel movement. In the rare case that the capsule does not pass in the natural way, it will need to be removed endoscopically or surgically. In order for your physician to get the most accurate information from this examination, you will need to follow the instructions below: If you are taking oral iron please stop taking this medication 5 to 7 days prior to the capsule endoscopy.

The Day before Capsule Endoscopy:

1. Beginning after lunch on the day before the Capsule Endoscopy, start a clear liquid diet. Water, clear broth, Jell-O, sprite, 7-up, Popsicles, white grape juice, apple juice are all considered clear liquids. Please stay away from dark colored or red liquids. No milk or milk products please.
2. Abstain from smoking 24 hours prior to and while you are undergoing Capsule Endoscopy.
3. Male patients should shave their abdomen 6 inches above and below the navel all across the abdomen prior to arrival for the procedure.
4. At 6:00 pm the evening before the procedure please drink ½ of a 4-ounce bottle of Magnesium Citrate. This is a laxative, which will probably make you have a bowel movement.
5. At 10:00 pm the evening before the procedure stop drinking your liquids, except for any medications with just a sip of water. Do not take any medication after 6 am.

The Day of the Capsule Endoscopy:

1. Arrive at Baptist Medical Center, Outpatient Department at 6:45 am. This is located in the main hospital in the southeast corner of the first floor. We are very close to the 56th Street parking garage.
2. Please dress in loose fitting two-piece clothing. Button up the front shirts is best.
3. You will need to complete a health history information sheet for us, so please bring a list of your medications.
4. We will interview you concerning the pre procedure prep and answer any questions before we apply the sensors, belt, battery and recorder.
5. You will be asked to keep a diary of your activities and intake during the procedure.

After Swallowing the Capsule

1. After you have swallowed the capsule, do not drink for two hours. We will write down on your activity sheet what time you may resume the clear liquids just like you where taking yesterday. At that time you may also start taking your medications.
2. After you have swallowed the capsule you may leave the hospital and go about your normal daily activities. Avoid any strenuous physical activity especially if it involves sweating, we do not want the sensors to come off until the procedure is complete. Avoid bending over and stooping also. The capsule moves thru your system best when you are somewhat active.
3. After you have swallowed the capsule you will be asked to check the recorder every 15 minutes and verify that the small green light on the top is blinking. Sometimes it seems to slow down towards the end of the 8 hours but it should still be blinking. If at any time it stops please contact us immediately. Our phone number is on the activity sheet.
4. If at any time during this procedure you suffer any abdominal pains, nausea or vomiting please contact us immediately.
5. After you have swallowed the capsule and until it has been excreted you should not be near any source of powerful electromagnetic fields such as one created near an MRI device or amateur (ham) radio. Occasionally, some images may be lost due to interference from one of these types of devices. On rare occasions this may result in the need to repeat the Capsule Endoscopy procedure.
6. Capsule Endoscopy lasts approximately 8 hours. You will be instructed and we will write down what time you are to return to the Outpatient Department on your activity sheet. At that time we will remove the sensors, belt and recorder from you. During the procedure you may undo the Velcro waist belt to enable you to go to the bathroom, but please do not remove any of the sensors or the belt. Please be careful with this equipment, avoid sudden movement and banging of the Data Recorder.

After Completing the Capsule Endoscopy

• After the procedure is complete and we have removed the device from you, we start the recorder downloading the images into a computer. The physician who is reading your study will then sit at a computer monitor and review these images. If usually takes about two days for us to provide the results of this study to your physician.
• You will be allowed to resume your previous diet after we have removed the device from you.
• If you develop unexplained nausea, abdominal pain or vomiting after this procedure please contact your physician immediately.
• Undergoing an MRI while the capsule is inside your body may result in serious damage to your intestinal tract or abdominal cavity. If we are concerned that the capsule did not pass into your colon for excretion we will contact your physician and request than an x-ray of your abdomen be taken to verify that the capsule has passed through your entire intestinal tract.