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Please reach out to us at enquiries@capmeddiagnostics.co.uk if you cannot find an answer to your question.
A capsule endoscopy spots bleeding and other problems in the digestive tract and is one of the only tests that can examine the whole of the small intestine.
Other diagnostic tests require the insertion of a thin, flexible tube with a camera. This tube doesn’t reach your small intestine.
There is no requirement for admission to hospital. The test is done as an outpatient with appointments typically taking around 20-30 minutes.
In most cases, whilst the test is being carried out and the capsule is passing through the body, the patient is able to carry out light duties throughout the day. Patients are able to drive short-distances and walk around normally.
There is no requirement for admission to receive a Capsule Endoscopy procedure.
The test is carried out as an outpatient. You would only be in the hospital the length of your appointment to swallow the capsule, setup the equipment and verify that the capsule is moving through the body.
Typically this is 20-30 minutes.
We aim to deliver a pre-assessment appointment within 2 weeks of referral.
Patients that are suitable for a standard package should expect to receive their test within 1 week of pre-assessment.
Reports can be expected to be received by both the patient, GP and referring Clinician (if applicable) 2 weeks from return of the equipment following the test.
A Capsule Endoscopy test is suitable for patients that have symptoms of Gastrointestinal problems, including:
Symptoms generally experienced by patients who receive a Capsule Endoscopy include
The actual appointment to administer the capsule and configure the reader takes 20-30 minutes. After this point you would be free to leave the clinic.
It can take between 4-8 hours for the capsule to pass all the way through the body. There is no requirement to return to the clinic during or after the test.
Patients are also require to have a pre-assessment appointment online or face-to-face within the two weeks prior to the procedure. The pre-assessment appointment generally takes 15-20 minutes.
It may be necessary in some cases to have a patency capsule test prior to the actual procedure to assess suitability for the test. This will require an additional appointment.
Unfortunately if you are unable to swallow the capsule we have no way of being able to deliver the test.
There are no special requirements to swallow the capsule and it is done with a glass of water as in the case of a normal tablet.
The patency capsule is a ‘dummy’ capsule that the patient swallows, that is the same size and shape as the regular capsule, to assess that the test capsule will be able to pass through the body.
If the patency capsule does not pass through the patient’s body it will dissolve in a couple of days.
If a patient is unable to pass a patency capsule then the standard procedure cannot go ahead.
A full breakdown of pricing will be available at launch. Further information on how and when you would pay for your test can be found on our pricing page.
All capsule testing packages cover
· Pre-assessment appointment.
· Preparation medication.
· Test delivery, interpretation and report.
In some cases patients would be unsuitable for the standard package and may require more pre-testing such as patency or blood testing depending on medical history and current medical conditions. There are no hidden costs to our pricing so these additional items are included as part of the package price.
The pre-assessment test is generally an online consultation where a clinician would ask questions regarding symptoms being experienced, previous medical history and medication. The aim of the test is to assess suitability to check that you are able to tolerate the test and that it is the correct test for you.
The clinician responsible for your test will compile the report and send a copy to you, your GP and referring clinician (if applicable).
If something is found that requires immediate attention the clinician will contact either your GP or referring clinician (if applicable) directly to advise them of any findings. Onward referral to NHS Services would need to be carried out by your GP.
If you are self-referred, at your request, we may be able to offer onward referral for further private consultation with a suitably qualified Consultant. In this case any further treatment plan discussed would be between you and the Consultant.
The capsule endoscopy test is purely a video recording of the Gastrointestinal tract. The capsule cannot take biopsies or remove polyps etc. However, the report produced will identify where in the bowel any further investigation would need to be undertaken.
Around 80% of patients receive a diagnosis and can be discharged. The remaining 20% of patients may require further investigation or treatment. For example, to remove polyps found during the Capsule Endoscopy test.
Further investigation and/or treatment would need to be discussed with the clinician that referred you and/or your GP, both of whom would receive a copy of the report.
No. The test package is only for the Capsule Endoscopy test. If a follow-up Colonoscopy is required, we will make your GP aware and can also refer onto a private consultant if you wish. The cost of your Capsule Endoscopy test does not cover the cost of any further treatment or consultation as a result of the test findings.
There is no requirement for any anaesthetic or sedation during the procedure.
The procedure cannot be performed in pregnancy or if a patient has Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing).
Patients with an electromechanical implant such as a pacemaker/defibrillator would need to seek advice/approval from their Cardiology clinician prior to testing as the capsule transmits images via radio frequency which could affect how the pacemaker/defibrillator operate.
The procedure also cannot be performed if an MRI scan is planned soon after the test date.
Most patients can’t feel the capsule once it has been ingested and therefore feel no pain or discomfort.
Bowel preparation in advance of the procedure can cause some discomfort but again should not cause any pain.
A capsule endoscopy is a safe procedure and complications are rare. However, no procedure is 100% risk free.
It is possible that the capsule gets stuck in a narrower part of your intestines. This complication can happen in patients who have previously had bowel surgery, inflammation or tumour.
If a patient can’t confirm that the capsule has passed as a precaution they would be sent for a X-Ray or CT scan to see if the capsule is still inside the body. A retained capsule can cause a bowel obstruction so it may be necessary to retrieve the capsule via standard Endoscopy procedures.
Once the test is complete you will package up the recording device in the packaging supplied at your face-to-face appointment. Following notification that the test is complete we will arrange for a courier to collect the equipment and bring it back to our office for uploading.
Images are uploaded from the reader to company managed secure cloud storage and the images are interpreted and a report created. Following completion of the report the images will be archived after 6-months and retained for a further 8-years in-line with national guidance on the retention of healthcare records.
The images and video do not contain any patient identifiable information.
The battery within the capsule and reader last 8-10 hours which is comfortably enough time to ensure that the capsule has passed through the bowel before shutting off. Dependant on the capsule test being performed, some capsules enter the body in a ‘sleep mode’ and awake after a set period when the capsule will have reached the area of the bowel to be examined.
Batteries in both recorders and capsules are fully charged prior to your procedure taking place.
If the battery on either the reader or the capsule runs out images will stop being recorded at the point that the power ran out. This doesn’t mean the test has failed as imagery will be available up to the point that the recording ceased. These images can still be interpreted and based on how far through the bowel the capsule has travelled, the clinician will be able to determine if a further capsule test or alternative test would be required.
The capsule leaves the body via your normal bowel movement when you go to the toilet. Patients are asked to look into the toilet to see if the capsule is visible. However, there is no need to search for or retrieve the capsule and it can be flushed away in a normal fashion
Yes, the capsule is designed to be flushed down the toilet and will be removed by sewer filtration. There is no need to take any further action once the capsule has been flushed.
The capsule produces thousands of high-quality images that are stitched together into a video. The images/video will show any bleeding, polyps or tumours in a similar way to a Colonoscopy.
Capsule Endoscopy is widely accepted as an alternative to invsive testing methods such as Colonoscopy.
No test is perfect. The accuracy of the test is dependent on the quality of the images obtained, the extent to which the Bowel Preparation regime is followed, as well as the conditions that are being looked for.
We only provide the test and subsequent report.
We do not provide any ongoing treatment.
Any treatment for conditions found would need to be discussed with the Clinician that referred you or your GP who will both receive a copy of the report.
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