Capsule Endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy uses a small, disposable camera the size of a large pill that you swallow. As it travels naturally through the digestive tract, it takes thousands of pictures of the small bowel — a long, looping section that standard endoscopes cannot easily reach. It helps find the source of hidden bleeding, signs of Crohn's disease and small-bowel tumors.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
The small bowel is several meters long and coils deep within the abdomen, which makes it hard to examine with a standard gastroscope or colonoscope. Capsule endoscopy solves this by using a tiny wireless camera inside a smooth, swallowable capsule. As it moves gently through the digestive tract by the gut's natural muscle action, it photographs the lining along the way. It is especially useful for finding the cause of bleeding when a gastroscopy and colonoscopy have not shown a source (obscure bleeding), for assessing suspected Crohn's disease of the small bowel, and for detecting small-bowel tumors.
You swallow the capsule with water, and it transmits images to a small recorder worn in a belt or on a set of adhesive sensors for the day. You can usually go about most normal activities while it records. The capsule is single-use and disposable — it is not retrieved and passes out naturally in a bowel movement, often without you noticing. Afterward, the many images are reviewed as a video by the gastroenterologist. Because it only takes pictures, capsule endoscopy cannot take biopsies or treat what it finds; if something needs sampling or treatment, a follow-up procedure such as a device-assisted enteroscopy may be arranged.
For international patients, a dedicated coordinator arranges the evaluation and provides a written plan and a transparent, itemized cost estimate before you travel. Our gastroenterologists can review your reports and imaging remotely first, so we confirm that capsule endoscopy is the right step for your case and explain what it involves before you commit to the journey.
Who is a candidate?
- Bleeding from the digestive tract when gastroscopy and colonoscopy have not found the source
- Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia thought to arise from the small bowel
- Suspected Crohn's disease affecting the small bowel, or monitoring of known disease
- Suspected small-bowel tumors or other lesions seen or hinted at on scans
- Investigation of certain polyp syndromes that affect the small bowel
- People who need a small-bowel examination without sedation or an endoscope
What happens
- 1
Assessment
Your specialist reviews your symptoms, blood tests and previous endoscopies to confirm capsule endoscopy is appropriate and to check there is no sign of a narrowing that could hold the capsule up.
- 2
Preparation
You follow a light diet and then fast for a set period beforehand, and sometimes take a bowel preparation, so the small bowel is clear for the clearest possible pictures. You are told which medicines to adjust.
- 3
The procedure
You swallow the capsule with water and wear a small recorder for about eight hours as the camera photographs the small bowel. You can usually move around and, after a while, have light food and drink as instructed.
- 4
Recovery & follow-up
You return the recorder at the end of the day; the capsule passes out naturally in a bowel movement. The gastroenterologist reviews the images as a video, and your team explains the findings and any next steps such as a follow-up procedure.
Benefits
- Examines the small bowel, which standard gastroscopy and colonoscopy cannot easily reach
- Comfortable and non-invasive — you simply swallow a capsule, with no sedation or endoscope
- Helps find hidden sources of bleeding and signs of Crohn's disease or small-bowel tumors
- Lets you go about most of your day while the camera records
- The capsule is disposable and passes naturally, so nothing needs to be removed
Risks & considerations
- The capsule becoming stuck at a narrowing (retention), which occasionally needs a procedure or surgery to remove
- The small bowel not being fully clear, so some areas are harder to see and a repeat may be advised
- The capsule not reaching the whole small bowel within its recording time
- It only photographs — it cannot take biopsies or treat findings, so a further procedure may be needed
- It is not suitable if a significant narrowing, blockage or swallowing problem is suspected
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Gastroenterology.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Capsule Endoscopy — frequently asked questions
For most people it is straightforward — the capsule is about the size of a large vitamin pill and is swallowed with water. If there is any concern about swallowing, your team discusses this with you in advance and can arrange alternatives.
The capsule is single-use and disposable. It is not retrieved; it passes out naturally in a bowel movement within a day or two, often without you noticing. You do not need to recover or examine it.
No. Capsule endoscopy only takes pictures, so it cannot sample tissue or treat what it finds. If a biopsy or treatment is needed, a follow-up procedure such as a device-assisted enteroscopy or another endoscopy is arranged.
This is uncommon. The main risk is the capsule being held up at a narrowing of the bowel (retention), which occasionally needs a procedure or surgery to remove it. We check for warning signs of a narrowing beforehand, and where there is concern a dissolvable dummy capsule can be used first.
Capsule endoscopy is an outpatient test with no hospital stay, and your coordinator confirms the timeline for your case. We provide a transparent, itemized estimate after reviewing your case and do not quote fixed prices online because each plan is individual.
Related treatments
Considering capsule endoscopy?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.