PillCam™ ESO Capsule Endoscopy

Understanding PillCam™ ESO Capsule Endoscopy

PillCam™ Capsule Endoscopy provides your doctor with pictures of your esophagus. This information has been prepared to help you understand the procedure. It includes answers to questions most frequently asked by patients. Please read it carefully. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to discuss them with your doctor or nurse before the procedure is scheduled.

The PillCam™ ESO video capsule is specifically designed to view the inner lining of the Esophagus. The capsule is equipped with miniature cameras on both ends and is about the size of a multi-vitamin, which can be swallowed easily.

How it Works

Sensor Arrays positioned for procedure

PillCam™ ESO is equipped with two miniature color video cameras (one on each end), battery and flashing light source Cameras transmit 14 color images per second as capsule moves through the esophagus Transmits about 2,600 images of the esophagus to a recording device worn by the patient Data is transferred from the recorder belt to the RAPID® Workstation (used for viewing, editing, archiving and e-mailing video images).

Rendering of Pillcam™ ESO traveling through esophagus

Patients fast for two hours before swallowing the PillCam™ ESO. Smooth plastic capsule is easily swallowed with water while patient lies on his/her back.After swallowing PillCam™ ESO, patients are raised by 30 degree angles every two minutes over a six minute ingestion period until they are sitting upright.PillCam™ ESO makes its way through the esophagus in about three minutes, transmitting images to recorder belt worn around the patient's waist.Total procedure takes approximately 20 minutes in the doctor's office.Natural digestive contractions help propel the disposable PillCam™ ESO through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and is passed naturally and painlessly from the body, usually within 24 hours.

Preparation Instructions for your PillCam™ Capsule Endoscopy

Patient Instructions for Capsule Endoscopy:

Your physician has determined that as part of you medical evaluation you should undergo an examination known as Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy. This procedure involves ingesting a small imaging capsule approximately the size of a large vitamin pill. The Capsule will pass naturally through your digestive systems while taking pictures of the esophagus. The images are transmitted to the sensor array that is placed on your abdomen and thorax. The sensor is attached to a walkman sized data recorder that saves all the images. The data recorder is located in the recorder belt, which is worn around your waist. After 20 minutes, the examination is finished, and the recorder belt is removed and returned to your physician for processing. The PillCam ESO Capsule is disposable and will be excreted naturally in your bowel movement. In the rare case that it will not be excreted normally, it will be removed endoscopically or surgically. The examination itself includes ingestion in a supine posture followed by a five minute period of reclination on a bed and another 15 minutes of free movement in the waiting room. In order for your physician to get the most accurate information from this examination, you must follow the instructions below:

The Day of Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy:

1. The morning of the Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy, refrain from eating solid food beginning 2 hours before the examination.
2. Do not take any medication beginning 2 hours before undergoing Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy.
3. Arrive at our office for your Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy dressed in loose fitting, two-piece clothing.
4. You will have a pre-procedure interview. During this time, you will be informed of the small chance of intestinal obstruction. You will be asked to give your informed consent.
5. Male patients need to have the area of the sensor locations shaved, to ensure proper adhesion.
6. The sensor array will be attached with adhesive pads and connected to the data recorder that is worn in a belt around your waist. When ready, you will be instructed to drink several sips of water, then to lie flat on your back with your head propped up on a pillow, and then to ingest the PillCam ESO capsule with a sip of water. During the next 5 minutes, you will gradually be propped up to a sitting position, after which you will be free to move for another fifteen minutes, until the end of the procedure.

After ingesting the PillCam ESO capsule:

1. After ingesting the PillCam ESO capsule, do not eat or drink for 20 minutes. During these 20 minutes you will be instructed to remain in the office. After the examination, you may eat. The above instructions related to eating apply, unless your physician specifies otherwise. Inform your physician immediately if you suffer from abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting during Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy.
2. After ingesting the PillCam ESO capsule and until it is excreted, you should not be near any source of powerful electromagnetic fields such as one created near an MRI device or amateur (ham) radio.
3. Occasionally, some images may be lost due to radio interference. On rare occasions this may result in the need to repeat the Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy examination.
4. Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy lasts 20 minutes and is considered complete according to your physician's instructions. Do not disconnect the equipment or remove the belt at any time during this period. Since the data recorder is actually a small computer, it should be treated with utmost care and protection. Avoid sudden movement and banging of the data recorder.
5. During Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy, you will need to verify that the small light on top right side of the data recorder is blinking in blue at a high rate for 10 minutes and then at four times per second for another 10 minutes. If for some reason it stops blinking at the above rates before the 20 minutes are over, inform the physician.

After completing Esophageal Capsule Endoscopy:

1. At the end of the examination, return to the examination room, where the equipment will be removed. The attending physician will use the data from the examination for the medical evaluation.
2. The data recorder stores the images of your examination. Handle the data recorder, recorder belt and sensor array carefully. Do not expose them to shock, vibration or direct sunlight, which may result in loss of information.
3. If you did not positively verify the excretion of the PillCam ESO capsule from your body, and you develop unexplained post-procedure nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain, contact our office for evaluation and possible x-ray examination.
4. Undergoing an MRI while the capsule is inside our body may result in serious damage to your intestinal tract or abdominal cavity.