Colon capsule

What is a colon capsule?

capsulacapsula

This is the third capsule developed and manufactured by Given Imaging, which provides a safe, non-invasive way to visualise the entire colon. It therefore serves as an alternative to colonoscopy, hitherto regarded as the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening.

The capsule, which measures 31x11 millimetres, has two internal cameras that capture 4 images per second, and a battery life of 10 hours to allow complete exploration of the colon.

The technique is performed without sedation and on an outpatient basis. Upon arrival at the medical centre in the morning, sensors are attached to the patient’s abdomen; after swallowing the capsule, these sensors transmit images to a recorder worn on an external belt, which acts as a receiver and collects all the information emitted by the cameras inside the colon. After the capsule completes its journey and is expelled rectally or the battery becomes flat, the patient returns to the medical centre; the images recorded are then transferred to the workstation for review.

Advantages of the colon capsule

The colon capsule offers the following advantages:

  • It allows direct visualisation of the mucosa
  • It does not require sedation or intubation
  • It is not radioactive, nor does it require air insufflation

The colon capsule therefore constitutes an important alternative to a typical colonoscopy, which is an invasive procedure usually performed under sedation or anaesthesia. However, if the capsule detects any lesions, a colonoscopy will be necessary in order to perform a biopsy or remove them.

Bowel preparation required?

Yes. It requires preparation similar to for a conventional colonoscopy. Preparation involves ingesting a laxative solution and administering a prokinetic drug 15 minutes before the capsule. Once the capsule is confirmed to be outside the gastric cavity, a smaller laxative dose will be administered to propel it forward.

This preparation allows the colon capsule to visualise the entire colon in most cases, offering excellent sensitivity and negative predictive value in detecting significant colonic lesions.

Indications and contraindications of the colon capsule

The colon capsule is indicated in the following situations:

  • Colon study in cases of incomplete colonoscopy
  • Screening for colorectal carcinoma in patients with or without a family history of cancer or colonic polyposis
  • Suspected colonic disease of any type

The most important contraindications are:

  • Known or suspected intestinal stenosis
  • Patient with severe renal failure and/or severe congestive heart failure
  • Allergy to purgative solutions used in bowel preparation (PEG and/or phosphosoda) or to prokinetic drugs
  • Swallowing problems
  • Pregnancy

Images obtained with colon capsule

Cápsula colonCápsula colon