Read this information as soon as your doctor has recommended a patency capsule. It covers what you need to know beforehand. It includes essential information about the procedure and how to prepare for it. You will need to start preparing 5 days beforehand.
If you read this information and decide you do not wish to go ahead, or want to consider alternatives, discuss this with your GP or hospital doctor. Do this as soon as possible before your appointment.
About a patency capsule
Your doctor thinks you need to have a video capsule endoscopy (VCE). Before you can have this, you need to have a patency capsule test.
A patency capsule is used to check that the video capsule will be able to pass through your whole digestive tract without getting caught.
You will not need to have this patency capsule if you have already had a ‘barium follow through’.
More about the capsule
For this patency test, you will swallow a capsule. The capsule is about the size of a large jelly bean. This has a tiny radio tag inside it. This can be seen on X-rays and scans.
The capsule has a covering that dissolves as it passes through your body. If the capsule passes through your body before its covering dissolves, we will know that a video capsule will also pass through. You will be able to go on to have the VCE.
If the capsule is still inside your body after 30 hours, it will start to dissolve into small pieces that pass out in your poo. You may need to have a scan, such as an X-ray, to see if the capsule has passed beyond your small intestine.
Benefits
A patency capsule is a simple way of finding out if you can safely have a video capsule endoscopy.
Risks
It is common for people to feel sick and have mild stomach ache while the capsule passes through the bowel. There is also the risk of allergy to the capsule.
In rare cases (fewer than 1 in 100), when the capsule is swallowed, it passes into the airways of the lungs, rather than down into the stomach. This may cause discomfort, coughing, shortness of breath, inflammation or infection. If it is not coughed up, a bronchoscopy (a tube with a camera) is passed down the airways to remove the capsule.
Alternatives
An alternative to the patency capsule is to have a 'barium follow through'. This is an X-ray examination of the small intestine. First, you drink a thick, white, chalk-like liquid called barium that coats the bowel, making it visible on X-rays. Then you have X-rays to take pictures of your bowel.
If you decide not to have the patency capsule, you should discuss this carefully with your healthcare team.
If you do not want to have the patency capsule, you will have to have a 'barium follow through' before you can have a video capsule endoscopy.
Without these tests, your healthcare team may not be able to confirm what is causing your symptoms, and they may get worse. If they do, you should speak to your healthcare team.
Preparing for the patency capsule
Contact the Endoscopy department as soon as possible:
- if you have problems with swallowing, especially pills
- if you have narrowing of your food pipe.
If you have diabetes, contact your diabetes nurse beforehand. They will give you advice about how to manage your diabetes medicines around the time of the test.
Follow these instructions
Some medicines must be stopped before the test. It is also very important for your bowel to be clear. So follow the instructions below.
You will be told when to restart these medicines before you go home.
Continue to take your other medicines as usual, unless the doctor or nurse tells you otherwise.
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Stop certain medicines 5 days before If you are taking any of these, you must stop them 5 days before your appointment:
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From 12:00 midday, the day before the test
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From 10pm, the day before the test until after the test starts:
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Contact
Contact us on the nurse helpline if you have any questions
| Clear fluids |
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Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you may need to adjust your treatment whilst preparing for this procedure.
- Discuss this with your diabetes nurse at least 3 days before your test.
Having the test
On the day
When you arrive for the test, a nurse will talk to you about what will happen. You will be able to ask any questions.
We will then ask you to swallow the capsule. You will be able to take a little water with it.
Do not bite the capsule because this will affect the results.
Before you go home, a nurse will give you instructions about what to do next. This will include looking into the toilet to see if you pass the capsule in your poo. If you do see it, you can flush it away.
Follow these instructions about when you can start to drink and eat afterwards.
| Day you swallow the capsule | |
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| For the first 2 hours after swallowing the capsule | Do not eat or drink |
| 2 to 4 hours after capsule | You can drink liquids |
| 4 hours after capsule | Have a light snack |
| 8 hours after capsule | Eat and drink normally |
| Next day | |
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| 9am to 10am |
Ring the Endoscopy department between 9am and 10am the next day. Tell them if you think the capsule has passed into the toilet in your poo. We will tell you if you need to have a scan (such as an X-ray). This is to look to see if you have passed the capsule or not. |
| 12 noon to 1:30pm | If we tell you that you need it, come to the hospital for the scan. The scan will tell us if you have passed the capsule and so can safely have the video capsule endoscopy. If so, we will arrange this as soon as possible. |
Complications
Until the patency capsule has passed through into your poo, you must not go near powerful magnets, such as an MRI scanner.
Get help immediately
Complications of a patency capsule test are rare. However, you should go to your nearest Emergency Department (A&E) or GP:
- if you have any nausea or vomiting
- if you have severe pain or swelling in your abdomen
- if you have severe chest pain.
Afterwards
We will review the X-ray to find out if you have passed the capsule. If the results show it is safe for you to have the Video Capsule endoscopy, we will call you to arrange an appointment. We aim to carry out the Video Capsule test within 2 weeks.
If it is not safe for you to have the video capsule, we will arrange a clinic appointment with your consultant for you to talk about what to do next.
Contact us
Endoscopy nurses helpline:
020 8934 6614 (2pm to 4pm only)
To reschedule or cancel appointments
Endoscopy Bookings: 020 8934 2099 option 2 (9am to 5pm) or email khn-tr.
Your appointment is valuable. If you need to change your appointment, give us as much notice as possible. This allows us to offer the appointment to another patient.
Please note, the booking team cannot answer questions relating to the procedure.