Endoscopy is done to find the cause of any number of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, bleeding, abdominal pain, or acid reflux. Traditional endoscopy involves inserting a flexible tube, with a tiny camera at one end, down the esophagus and into the stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). Endoscopy is uncomfortable and requires sedation. The sedation necessitates a one to two hour recovery period at the clinic or hospital. And, although the risk is slight, sedation carries cardiopulmonary risks, especially for people with heart disease.
During capsule endoscopy there is a risk of capsule retention in the small intestine due to obstruction or narrowing, and surgery may be needed to remove the capsule. For that reason, capsule endoscopy is not for people with gastrointestinal obstructions, strictures, or fistulas. Patients with pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) cannot undergo capsule endoscopy, as the signals the camera sends to the recording device may disrupt the operation of the cardiovascular implant. Patients with swallowing disorders also cannot undergo capsule endoscopy.
For more Alerts and Special Reports, please visit the Digestive Disorders Topic page.
