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A camera you swallow

Capsule endoscopy: the small intestine, photographed.

The small intestine sits beyond the reach of standard scopes. A capsule endoscopy photographs it from the inside — no sedation, no scope, no downtime.

Quick answer

Capsule endoscopy uses a vitamin-sized capsule containing a tiny camera. After you swallow it, it travels the length of your digestive tract taking thousands of images of the small intestine, transmitted to a small recorder you wear. It's painless, sedation-free, and the capsule passes naturally.

When it's useful

  • Finding sources of GI bleeding or iron deficiency anemia that colonoscopy and EGD didn't explain
  • Evaluating the small intestine in suspected Crohn's disease
  • Assessing small-bowel polyps in certain inherited syndromes
  • Investigating unexplained abdominal symptoms when standard scopes are normal

How it works

You'll fast beforehand, swallow the capsule in the office, and go about a quiet day while the recorder collects images — typically about eight hours. There's no sedation and no recovery time. I then review the full image series and go over the findings with you. The disposable capsule passes on its own, usually unnoticed.

Common questions

Capsule Endoscopy FAQs

Does the capsule hurt? +
No — it's swallowed like a large vitamin, works painlessly as it travels, and passes naturally. Most patients never notice it again.
Do I need sedation? +
No sedation is needed. You can go about a quiet day while the recorder collects images — most normal activities are fine.
What does it see that a scope can't? +
The roughly twenty feet of small intestine between the reach of an upper endoscope and a colonoscope. That's often where unexplained bleeding or early Crohn's disease hides.
Is the capsule reused? +
No — it's disposable and passes out of your body naturally, usually within a day or two.
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Ready when you are

Ready to schedule your capsule endoscopy?

Request an appointment and the office will take it from there.