Capsule Endoscopy

Hawaii Gastroenterology Specialists
Gastroenterology located in Aiea, HI & Honolulu, HI

If your doctor suspects that you have ulcers, polyps, or even Crohn's disease, you may need a capsule endoscopy to get an accurate diagnosis. At Hawaii Gastroenterology Specialists, the board-certified physicians use the newest, state-of-the-art equipment to look at your small intestine. Through the wireless technology involved in capsule endoscopy, they can quickly and thoroughly diagnose your ailment. If you live in or near Honolulu or Aiea, Hawaii, and need a capsule endoscopy, it’s time to see a gastrointestinal specialist. Call today to schedule your initial consultation or book your appointment easily online.

Capsule Endoscopy Q & A

What is a Capsule Endoscopy?

Capsule endoscopy allows your doctor to see areas of your digestive tract that aren’t viewable through a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy, especially in your mid to lower small intestine where the other scopes can’t reach.

For a capsule endoscopy, your doctor gives you a small, pill-sized video camera to swallow. Like a traditional endoscopy, this video camera has its own light and transmits images of your digestive tract to a small recording device on your body. Once the capsule endoscope has passed through your body, your doctor views the images and determines if there are any issues in your middle digestive tract.

Who Needs a Capsule Endoscopy?

Your doctor may recommend a capsule endoscopy if they think there’s a problem in your small intestine. The procedure is often used to determine the cause of bleeding in areas that can’t be reached via a colonoscopy or an upper endoscopy.

The physicians at Hawaii Gastroenterology Specialists can also diagnose polyps, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease), tumors, and ulcers with capsule endoscopy. If they suspect that you have angiodysplasias (which causes severe anemia), lymphoma, carcinoid tumor, or cancer of the small intestine, they may also suggest this procedure.

What Happens During a Capsule Endoscopy?

Because an empty stomach provides more accurate images, you need to empty yours before your capsule endoscopy. The doctors at Hawaii Gastroenterology Specialists recommend fasting for at least 12 hours before your procedure. They may also give you a laxative to take either the night before or the morning of your endoscopy.

Your doctor gives you the capsule to swallow. Over the next eight hours, the endoscope travels through your digestive tract, taking a rapid succession of pictures, which it transmits via a radio transmitter to a receiver you wear on your waist.

At the end of the procedure, the images download, and your doctor can view them. You naturally pass the capsule, which does not need to be retrieved.

If you’re at risk for Crohn’s disease, don’t wait to seek treatment. Get an accurate diagnosis and excellent treatment at Hawaii Gastroenterology Specialists. Call the office today to schedule your initial consultation. You can even use the online booking tool and be one step closer to feeling better.

Contact Us

Our Locations

Office and Affiliated Endoscopy Center

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Aiea Clinic - Closed for lunch 11:30am-1pm

Monday - Friday:

7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Saturday:

7:30 am - 11:30 am

Sunday:

Closed

Pacific Endoscopy Center

Monday - Friday:

6:30 am - 3:00 pm

Saturday:

By appointment only

Sunday:

Closed