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What Is A Capsule Endoscopy?

BRAVO™ Esophageal pH Capsule

If stomach acid regurgitates into your esophagus, you can experience heartburn, belching, and pain. This ailment, known as gastroesophageal reflux or “GERD,” can also cause hoarseness, asthma, or coughing and the annoying need to clear your throat.

“Esophageal pH monitoring” is the test that we use to measure the acid that you reflux into the esophagus.

Other physicians outside of NYGA may perform the conventional method of esophageal pH monitoring, by passing a long catheter with two acid sensors located at its tip through your nostril into the esophagus, and then leaving this in place for 24 hours.

At NYGA, we offer an easier, more comfortable method. We easily affix a newly-developed, pillsized acid sensor called “BRAVO™” to your esophagus. The painless, unobtrusive capsule transmits information by radio signal to a small receiver which you wear on your belt. We use the information to tailor your treatment to help eliminate heartburn, belching, and regurgitation.

The BRAVO™ capsule provides you with the comfort and freedom to go about your usual activities during the 48 hour study period. Within several days, the capsule dislodges painlessly from the esophagus and passes naturally out of the body in the stool.

Wireless Capsule Endoscopy M2A™ Capsule

Using past methods, physicians were only able to observe the first 1 to 2 feet of your small intestine, while the remaining 15 feet was not accessible. As hailed on ABC’s 20/20 and on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, the revolutionary M2A™ capsule made by Given Imaging, Inc is a pill-sized, easily-swallowed camera which travels effortlessly through your entire small intestinal tract. During the voyage, the camera captures approximately 55,000 pictures of your small intestinal lining and transmits the pictures to a small receiver on your belt.

The single-use capsule passes naturally and harmlessly out of your body within several days.

The capsule endoscope is superior to all other diagnostic techniques for the evaluation of:

internal bleeding of unknown cause
tumors of the small intestine
chronic diarrhea
Crohn’s disease involving the small intestine

Consistent with our commitment to being on the forefront of medical care, the physicians at NYGA were among the first in the Tri-State area to offer wireless capsule endoscopy, and we now have among the largest experiences with this technology in the New York metropolitan region. Thus, we can more quickly and expertly address your condition and keep you healthy. Because of our expertise, we have been called upon to teach other gastroenterologists around the country about M2A™ capsule.

Capsule Endoscopy Preparation

Download Capsule Endoscopy Preparation Ulilizing GoLYTELY® Prep

Capsule Endoscopy Preparation Utilizing GoLYTELY® Prep

Warnings:

Please inform this office in advance if you have congestive heart failure, kidney failure, chronic constipation, or have had an inadequate bowel preparation for a previous colonoscopy.

Purchase:

GoLYTELY®. You will receive a prescription from your doctor for GoLYTELY® (colon cleansing solution), which is 4 liters of a balanced salt solution that is not absorbed. GoLYTELY® can be obtained from any pharmacy.
Tucks wipes™(over the counter, optional)

Preparing for your procedure:

In preparation for applying the adhesive sensors, male patients should shave their abdomen 6 inches above and below the navel.

Limit yourself to a clear liquid diet beginning 8 hours before your procedure. Clear liquids include black coffee (no milk or cream), tea, soft drinks, strained fruit juices (no pulp), water, clear juice, bouillon/broths, popsicles, and Jell-O. Consume no liquids that are red or blue. Do not drink alcohol.

Patients should dress in two-piece attire, please no dresses, jumpers or overalls.

At 6PM the evening before your procedure:

Mix and refrigerate the solution. The solution is more palatable when chilled.

Day of your procedure:

When starting this preparation, you will need to be close to a bathroom. You will have progressively looser bowel movements over the next several hours. Individual responses to laxatives vary. Do not be concerned if you do not have a bowel movement immediately.

At least four hours before your appointment, you should start drinking the GoLYTELY® solution. You will drink a total of 4 cups. Drink eight ounces every 10 minutes or so. Best results are obtained when the solution is taken on a regular basis. You can discard the remaining solution.

TIPS:

If you experience nausea, bloating or vomiting, you may increase the time interval between eight ounce glasses.

On the day of the procedure, take your usual morning medications, especially those for blood pressure, with sips of water upon awakening. Take nothing by mouth (apart from your medications) for 4 hours prior to the examination.