Pill Cam Endoscopy Services

What is a Pill Cam?

Capsule endoscopy allows our board-certified gastroenterologists to examine part of your digestive tract without the need for sedation or a lengthy, more invasive procedure. You'll swallow a vitamin-sized capsule, sometimes known as a "pill cam," and wear a special belt fitted with a recorder to create images of your small intestine.

When is a Pill Cam Needed?

Capsule endoscopy allows our gastroenterologists in Salisbury or Concord to diagnose recurring or persistent digestive issues when other tests have not identified the cause, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia, or bleeding. This procedure also helps gastrointestinal doctors assess the extent of small intestine involvement, monitor treatment progress, and evaluate how long food takes to move through the small intestine.

What to Expect From a Pill Cam Endoscopy

First, your health provider will fit you with a sensor belt that you will wear over your clothing. Next, you will swallow the capsule with a glass of water. You can then resume most of your daily activities.

Your healthcare provider will arrange an appointment for you to return to your gastroenterologist's office with the sensor belt and recorder. Your gastrointestinal doctor in Concord or Salisbury will then download the data and review the images.

You will pass the capsule naturally with a bowel movement, usually within a 24-72 hour period.

How to Prepare for Pill Cam Endoscopy Services in Concord

Your gastrointestinal specialists in Salisbury or Concord will provide you with written instructions before the examination. Specific instructions may vary according to your individual needs, but in general, preparation focuses on maintaining an empty stomach to create the best images possible.

You will need to begin a liquid diet the day before your capsule endoscopy appointment and have nothing to eat or drink for approximately 10 hours before your procedure.

On the day of the procedure, male patients need to shave their abdomen six inches above and below their navel. Women may need to shave their upper pelvis area. The gastroenterology team performing the test will advise patients on the specifics of shaving.