What Is A Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy?
A similar procedure called an upper endoscopy examines your esophagus (the tube along your throat that helps you swallow). An upper endoscopy allows your doctor to see all the way down your esophagus, through the stomach, and into the first portion of the small intestine. When the endoscopy goes even further into the small bowel, it is known as a small bowel endoscopy or a deep endoscopy. The small bowel endoscopy procedure is commonly used at Century GI to view areas of your small intestine.
What Digestive Issues Can A Small Bowel Endoscopy Identify?
A small bowel endoscopy might be recommended by your Century GI doctor to help identify, monitor, or treat a number of digestive issues, including the following:
- Ulcerative colitis and proctitis
- Reflux Disease/Heartburn
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Colon cancer
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (such as Crohn’s disease)
- Small intestine polyps
- Small intestine ulcer
- Gallbladder or pancreatic disease
Who Is A Good Candidate For A Small Bowel Endoscopy?
Your doctor might also recommend a small bowel endoscopy if you suffer from one or more of the following symptoms that may indicate a digestive issue:
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in stool
- Gas and bloating
- Diarrhea
Small Bowel Endoscopy Procedure
When you arrive for your small bowel endoscopy appointment at Century GI, you’ll be walked through what you can expect for your procedure and given time to ask questions to your doctor. Depending on the area of your small intestine that your doctor needs to view, your procedure may vary. Discuss the details of your procedure with your doctor. If your upper small bowel is being examined, your doctor will use a small camera at the end of a tool called an endoscope to view your small intestine. In cases when your doctor needs to view deeper into the small bowel, a special balloon tool may be used to view further down the bowel.
Another kind of small bowel endoscopy is available at Gotham Gastroenterology called a small bowel capsule endoscopy. During this kind of endoscopy, you are given a small pill to swallow instead of using the endoscope camera. The pill travels through your small intestines and shows your doctors the entire digestive process along the way.
Benefits Of Having A Small Bowel Endoscopy
You can expect the following benefits when you choose to undergo a small bowel endoscopy in the hands of experienced and compassionate gastroenterologists at Century GI:
