GI Pill Cam
Advances in gastroenterology have changed the way GI doctors and their patients approach screening for digestive diseases and conditions. Ever on the forefront of the latest advanced technology, the GI specialists at Saddleback Medical Group Gastroenterology are proud to offer their patients a revolutionary in-office diagnostic procedure known as the GI pill cam.
What Is the GI Pill Cam?
The GI pill cam – also called a capsule endoscopy – allows doctors to insert a tiny, disposable camera inside the body to get a better look at a patient’s digestive tract. The camera is contained within a small capsule, about the size of a fish oil pill.
Patients simply swallow the GI pill cam during an office visit with their gastroenterologist. The pill cam does the rest! It takes thousands of pictures as it travels through the digestive tract, and the images are transmitted wirelessly to a computer for review by the physician.
Benefits of the GI Pill Cam
The pill cam offers many benefits to patients and doctors alike – it’s no wonder we frequently have patients requesting this procedure. Benefits of the pill cam include:
- It’s quick – the entire in-office process takes about 30 minutes.
- No sedation is needed – so, it’s less costly with fewer hassles, such as having to arrange a ride, setting aside ample recovery time, etc.
- There’s no downtime afterward – you can resume your usual activities immediately after.
- It’s less invasive than an endoscopy.
Why You May Need a GI Pill Cam
The pill cam is used to identify a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including:
- Celiac disease
- Chronic undiagnosed intestinal bleeding
- Crohn's disease
- Medication-related small bowel injury
- Small intestine tumors
- Vascular disorders
What to Expect
The staff at Saddleback Medical Group Gastroenterology has prepared the following instructions to help you prepare for your in-office pill cam procedure:
After you swallow the capsule in your doctor’s office, it takes about 8 hours for it to travel through your digestive tract, taking pictures as it goes.
You will wear a belt that has a recorder in it around your waist. The recorder collects the images from the camera and stores them. After the procedure, you will return the recorder to your doctor, who will download and assess the images, looking for any problems.
The capsule will exit the body in the stool, typically within 24-72 hours, and does not need to be retrieved.
If a GI condition is identified as a result of the GI pill cam procedure, your gastroenterologist will discuss all available treatment options, depending on the issue type and severity, and together, you will determine the treatment plan that’s best for you.
GI Pill Cam in Laguna Hills, CA
What’s better than an outpatient endoscopy? A remarkable little procedure known as a GI pill cam – or capsule endoscopy. If you or your doctor believe you may benefit from this in-office diagnostic procedure, call the GI professionals at Saddleback Medical Group Gastroenterology in Laguna Hills, California, at (949) 770-7163 or simply request an appointment now.
