Trusted medical platform in Jordan
Capsule endoscopy images the bowel from the inside without an endoscope and without sedation. You swallow a capsule the size of a large tablet containing a miniature camera, a light source, a battery and a wireless transmitter. It travels with the normal contractions of the bowel, capturing thousands of images over several hours, which are transmitted to a small recorder worn on a belt with adhesive sensors on the abdomen. The doctor later reviews the images as a continuous film. The capsule is passed in the stool and is not retrieved. The examination is usually requested to reach the one region that neither gastroscopy nor colonoscopy can see: the long, coiled small intestine. The commonest indications are occult bleeding or iron-deficiency anaemia that remains unexplained after the stomach and colon have been examined, assessment of suspected Crohn's disease of the small bowel, some cases of coeliac disease that are not responding, and surveillance of inherited polyp syndromes. For the small bowel it provides detail that ultrasound and plain imaging cannot. Its limits are fundamental and should be understood before you consent. The capsule images but does not act: it cannot take a biopsy, stop bleeding, remove a polyp or dilate a narrowing, so if it finds an abnormality another procedure will usually be required to treat it. It is not a substitute for colonoscopy in bowel-cancer screening, it does not localise findings with full anatomical precision, and it can miss a lesion if it passes quickly or if the bowel is not clean. The main safety consideration is capsule retention in a narrowing that was not previously known. This is uncommon, but it is why your doctor asks about previous obstructive symptoms and abdominal surgery, and may request imaging or a dissolvable patency capsule beforehand. You must not enter an MRI scanner until the capsule is confirmed to have passed. Suitability is decided by clinical assessment and review of your surgical history, not by reading about the test. The study itself needs no anaesthetic, no escort and no driving restriction. You can continue your day while avoiding heavy exertion and strong magnetic fields, then return the recorder at the end of the day. Reading thousands of images takes time, so the report is not issued on the spot.
Your doctor asks about previous obstructive symptoms, abdominal surgery, Crohn's disease and swallowing difficulty, and may order imaging or a dissolvable patency capsule to test bowel transit before the imaging capsule is used.
You usually fast from the night before, and a cleansing solution may be prescribed, because food residue, turbid fluid and bubbles obscure the images and devalue the study. Follow the written timing exactly.
Sensor patches are applied to the abdomen and the recorder is attached to a belt, then you swallow the capsule with a sip of water. No anaesthetic or sedation is needed, and recording begins immediately.
You resume normal activity while avoiding strenuous effort, repeated bending and strong magnetic fields, restart fluids and then light food at the times specified, and keep the sensors and recorder in place.
You return the recorder at the end of the day; the images are downloaded, reviewed as a continuous film and reported. The findings then determine the next step, such as deep small-bowel enteroscopy if treatment or biopsy is required.
Before the appointment tell your doctor if you have difficulty swallowing, have ever had bowel obstruction or a known stricture, have had abdominal surgery, carry an implanted device such as a pacemaker, or are pregnant; some of these require a different plan or an alternative test. List all your medicines, particularly iron tablets, blood thinners and drugs that slow bowel motility, as some may need to be stopped or delayed until after the capsule is swallowed. Follow the fasting instructions and take the cleansing solution if it is prescribed, because bowel cleanliness is the biggest factor in image quality. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows the recorder to be fitted, and do not enter any area with an MRI scanner on the day of the study. This particular test needs neither sedation nor an escort, but arrange the time for returning the equipment.
Restart fluids and then food according to your written instructions and carry on with your day, avoiding vigorous exercise. Seek urgent care for increasing colicky abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, failure to pass wind or stool, or a distended, rigid abdomen: these suggest possible capsule retention, which is uncommon but needs prompt assessment. Watch your stools until you see the capsule pass, and if you cannot confirm it has passed within two weeks, tell your doctor. Under no circumstances enter an MRI scanner before passage is confirmed, even if you feel perfectly well. Keep the recorder and sensors in place until the recording period ends, and return the equipment at the agreed time, since delay delays your report. Remember that the capsule only takes pictures: if it shows an abnormality you may need a further procedure to biopsy or treat it, and that is the normal pathway rather than a failure of the test.
Swallowing the capsule takes minutes, recording usually runs 8 to 12 hours, and reading the images and issuing the report takes a few days.
Dr Mohammad Mahmoud Rashid is a consultant in gastroenterology, hepatology and endoscopy with British postgraduate qualifications. His clinical work covers live…
There are currently 1 doctor profiles linked to Capsule Endoscopy on ClinicsJo. Review the listed services and contact the practice to confirm availability with the doctor and branch you choose.
Start with an available doctor's profile and use the contact or booking options shown there. Confirm the service, practice location and appointment time with the clinic. If this list is empty, broaden your search using the directory links on this page.
Ask the practice for the current price and what it includes. A consultation fee shown on a profile is not necessarily the price of a procedure, tests or follow-up. Confirm any additional charges and insurance arrangements before your visit.
