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Should I do the Video Endoscopy Capsule?

JD-FLA
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JD-FLA Contributor
JD-FLA
Posted

I was wondering if anyone has done the video endoscopy capsule (VEC)? I don't want to do the traditional endoscopy, so I read this is an alternative. From what I understand there is a risk of the capsule getting "stuck" along the way?

I'm not sure the VEC is even necessary. I was diagnosed about ten days ago with Celiac just based on blood-work and symptoms, but I wanted some additional confirmation and did not want the endoscopy/biopsy.

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Corinne D. Contributor
Corinne D.
Posted

Hi JD, I did the videocapsule endoscopy. The advantange is that it is less invasive than the traditional version, there is no anesthesia and it goes through the whole length of the small intestine. With the traditional one they can only go as far as the duodenum. The downside is that they cannot take biopsies, unlike with the traditional one. So they can see if there is villous atrophy, but not if there is microscopic damage and they cannot quantify the lymphocytes infiltrating the lamina propria. Seeing the extent and type of damage one has is a good reference point to check how healing comes along in time. Another downside to the pill camera is that there is a more substantial preparation involved than mere fasting: you have to drink some laxative. But it's like half the amount you would drink for a colonoscopy. Protocols vary in terms of what they allow you to eat a few days/the day before.

The risk of the pill getting stuck is really minimal, I wouldn't worry about that.

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