Capsule endoscopy or Endocam is a novel way of examining the small intestine. Our small bowel is about 3 to 5 metres long and a regular endoscope cannot be used to evaluate it. Although we have a long endoscope known as a small bowel enteroscope that can be used to visualise the small bowel, this is an invasive procedure and requires deep sedation.

Capsule endoscopy, on the other hand, involves swallowing of a large pill like device that has a camera to take pictures as it passes through the gut. The images are transmitted to an external device and later read by the physician.

This is a simple screening procedure for diseases of the small bowel. It is done as an out-patient, and requires no special preparation. It is commonly used for evaluation of Crohn’s disease, occult blood loss, iron deficiency and malabsorption syndromes.