Small-bowel capsule endoscopy
Information for patients from the Endoscopy Unit
You have been referred to the Alternative Pathways Unit for a small-bowel capsule endoscopy. This leaflet will explain the following.
Why you need a capsule endoscopy
What a capsule endoscopy is
What will happen during your procedure
If you have any questions or wish to reschedule your appointment, please contact the Alternative Pathways Unit.
We need your formal consent before we can proceed with this procedure. This leaflet will help you understand the procedure, so you can decide whether you want to continue with a capsule endoscopy. On the day of your procedure, we will ask you to sign a consent form confirming your agreement. Please read this information carefully before making your decision.
What is a capsule endoscopy?
.jpg)
This test is an accurate way of looking at the lining of the small bowel. The patient swallows a small capsule, slightly bigger that a large vitamin tablet.
The capsule will pass naturally through the digestive tract.
The capsule travels through the small bowel, taking approximately 50,000 images.
During the test the patient wears a comfortable sensor belt around their abdomen (stomach). The belt can be adjusted and secured with Velcro straps.
The sensor belt is attached to a small data recorder box, which is kept in a shoulder bag.
The capsule transmits the images to a data recorder for approximately 8 to 10 hours.
Why do I need a capsule endoscopy?
There are many reasons why you may need a capsule endoscopy.
You may have iron deficiency anaemia.
You may have bleeding from an area not reachable by a standard endoscopy.
We may need to check the clinical importance of abnormalities found on a previous barium study or scan.
We may need to check a pre-existing condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
A capsule endoscopy will allow us to get a better look at your small bowel. This will help us find out what is causing your current symptoms and discuss your treatment options.
What will happen at my pre-assessment appointment?
You should have a telephone pre-assessment appointment booked. A nurse will phone you, and the appointment will last up to 30 minutes.
If you have any hearing issues and wish someone else to answer the questions for you, please tell the nurse at the beginning of your appointment.
The nurse will be happy to answer any questions or worries you may have about your small bowel capsule endoscopy.
Please have a list of all your prescribed medications ready for this appointment.
If you have diabetes, please let the nurse know to make sure that we can arrange the most suitable appointment for you.
Please let the nurse know if you have any existing medical conditions.
How do I prepare for the capsule endoscopy?
For this test to be successful, your stomach and small bowel must be totally empty.
The day before your capsule endoscopy
Eat your normal diet until 1pm.
After 1pm only drink clear fluids until 10pm. Examples of clear fluids are:
water
apple or grape juice
tea or coffee without milk
clear fizzy drinks, such as Sprite or Lucozade
clear jelly
ice lollies (not red)
After 10pm do not eat or drink anything until after your procedure the following morning. We may give you further dietary instructions.
Only take essential medication with a small amount of water. Please contact the Alternative Pathways Unit if you are unsure.
Do not smoke, vape, or chew gum for 24 hours before your arrival time.
What will happen when I arrive at hospital?
The day of your capsule endoscopy
Do not eat or drink anything, except necessary medications. If you take medications, either:
take them at least 2 hours before your arrival time, with a small amount of water
do not take them until 4 hours after you swallow the capsule
When you arrive at the hospital, please go to the Outpatients reception. A receptionist will greet you and tell the nurse you have arrived.
The nurse will review the information you gave during your pre-assessment appointment. They will ask you to sign the consent form you were sent in the post. If you have any questions, please ask.
Your nurse will attach the belt to your abdomen. They will also fit you with a shoulder bag to carry the data recorder. On the day of your procedure, dress in loose-fitting clothing. Ideally two-piece clothing, as this makes it easier when attaching the sensor belt.
You will then swallow the capsule, with water mixed with medication called Infacol. The medication prevents air bubbles.
Why do I need to sign a consent form?
All patients must give permission before they receive any type of medical treatment, test, or examination. Consent is usually given when you sign the consent form before your treatment, but we may ask you to give it verbally.
You must give your consent voluntarily.
The hospital must give you all the information you need to make a decision about your treatment. This is so you can give us informed consent. If you have not been given this information, or you have but you still have questions, please speak to a member of staff.
You must be capable of giving consent. This means that you understand the information given to you and can make an informed decision.
When we ask you to give consent, please use this time to ask any questions you may still have. For more information, please go to the NHS Consent for Treatment web page. Remember, you can withdraw your consent for treatment at any time.
[Web site last accessed 26 August 2026]
What happens after I swallow the capsule?
After swallowing the capsule
Only drink water.
Do not eat anything until 2pm. After 2pm, you can have a light lunch, such as a sandwich, soup, or egg on toast.
If you did not take your usual medication at 6am before you swallowed the capsule, you can take this now, unless we told you otherwise.
Do not smoke or vape until we remove the data recorder following your procedure.
Please be very careful with the data recorder.
Do not get it wet.
Do not knock it and avoid sudden movements.
Do not disconnect the data recorder from the belt or take off the data recorder belt.
Avoid strenuous activity. Do not bend or stoop, as this may interfere with the transmission of images from the capsule to the data recorder.
If the data recorder disconnects from the sensor belt, do not reconnect it. Please contact the Alternative Pathways Unit immediately.
We will ask you to sign an “Equipment Record Form” when you leave the department wearing the equipment. This reminds you to take responsibility for the medical equipment during the day. When you return the equipment you will need to sign the form again.
Do not go near electromagnetic fields until you have passed the capsule in your stools (poo). This includes MRI scanners or radio transmitters, and is due to metal parts in the capsule. If you have an MRI scan appointment you may need to postpone this.
Check every 30 minutes that the light on top of the data recorder is blinking twice per second. If it is not blinking at this rate, record the time on your “Events Form” and contact the Alternative Pathways Unit.
Your nurse will give you a “Capsule Endoscopy Events Form”. Please use this form to record the time that you eat, drink, or feel anything unusual during your procedure. If you notice any changes in the data recorder, please note this as well. This can include the blinking light stopping flashing, or changes in the colour or sounds heard.
You can drive as soon as you leave the hospital.
What will happen at the end of my procedure?
Please return to the Buckland Hospital Alternative Pathways Unit promptly at 5pm, where we will remove the data recorder.
You can now eat and drink as normal. The capsule is normally passed in your stools (poo) 24 to 72 hours after swallowing. The capsule will flush safely down the toilet.
What about my medication?
Please have a list of all medication(s) ready for your pre-assessment telephone appointment.
If you take any of the following medication, stop taking them 1 week before your procedure.
Oral iron tablets.
Codeine or codeine-containing painkillers, such as Co-Codamol and Dihydrocodeine. Use paracetamol-based painkillers instead. Your GP will be able to suggest alternatives if you have difficulty.
Mounjaro or other GLP-1 agonists weekly injections (weight loss injections). Please also stay on a liquid diet for 24 hours before your procedure.
If you have diabetes, please contact the Alternative Pathways Unit.
Are there any risks or complications with having a capsule endoscopy?
The capsule passes through your digestive tract. It is eliminated naturally in your stools (poo) 24 to 72 hours after swallowing. This may take up to 2 weeks for some people. The capsule will flush safely down the toilet.
Small-bowel capsule endoscopy is a safe procedure and well-tolerated by patients. The main risk to the test is capsule retention, in other words the capsule gets stuck. It is estimated that this occurs in approximately 1 in every 100 cases. Capsule retention is usually caused by narrowing of the bowel lumen. If this happens, the capsule can be removed either with laxatives or through endoscopy, however an operation may be needed.
Other complications include aspiration of the capsule, mucosal injury, or bleeding. Very rarely, patients may experience nausea (feeling sick) and abdominal cramps.
Are there any alternatives?
The small-bowel capsule endoscopy is usually used when other methods have failed to provide specific information about your small bowel. This can include procedures such as gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and CT / MRI scans.
Alternatives, like a double balloon enteroscopy, may not be tolerated by all patients. A double balloon enteroscopy involves passing a long endoscope into your small bowel.
If you are not suitable for a small-bowel capsule, you will discuss your alternatives with your referring consultant.
When / how will I get my results?
The images will be uploaded onto the recording system and read by the endoscopist in the next few days. The endoscopist will store the images confidentially, as part of your medical records.
As soon as the images are read, we aim to send the report to your GP and referring consultant within 2 weeks. The nursing team will contact you within a 2 week timeframe about your results.
Contact details
If you have any questions, or would like more information about your capsule endoscopy, please contact the Alternative Pathways Unit.
Alternative Pathways Unit
Telephone: 01304 222558 (between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday)
Ask 3 Questions
There may be choices to make about your healthcare. Before making any decisions, make sure you get the answers to these three questions:
What are my choices?
What is good and bad about each choice?
How do I get support to help me make a decision that is right for me?
Your healthcare team needs you to tell them what is important to you. It’s all about shared decision making.
What do you think of this leaflet?
We welcome feedback, whether positive or negative, as it helps us to improve our care and services.
If you would like to give us feedback about this leaflet, please fill in our short online survey. Either scan the QR code below, or use the web link. We do not record your personal information, unless you provide contact details and would like to talk to us some more.
If you would rather talk to someone instead of filling in a survey, please call the Patient Voice Team.
Patient Voice Team
Telephone: 01227 868605
Email