Finding the Hidden Culprit: Capsule Endoscopy for Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Introduction

When standard endoscopy and colonoscopy fail to identify the source of chronic blood loss, patients often face repeat procedures and lingering anemia. Capsule endoscopy offers a minimally invasive path to answers.

Why Traditional Scopes Miss Lesions

• The small intestine stretches 20 ft, and only a fraction is reached during conventional procedures.
• Angiodysplasias, ulcers, and small tumors frequently hide beyond this reach.

How the Capsule Works

1. The patient swallows a vitamin-sized device equipped with a camera, LEDs, and a wireless transmitter.
2. Images are captured at 2–6 fps as the capsule travels naturally through the GI tract.
3. A receiver stores the data, which is uploaded to cloud-based AI (like our Bleed Map™) for analysis.
4. Clinicians review a time-stamped video and heat-map of suspected bleeding.

Clinical Evidence

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Prospective studies show diagnostic yields of 61 %–90 % for obscure bleeding, compared with <35 % for push enteroscopy. Early identification cuts transfusion rates and lowers hospitalization costs.

Patient Journey

• Prep: Clear liquids 24 h, bowel cleanser the evening before.
• Ingestion: Outpatient visit; total office time ≈20 min.
• Follow-up: Same-day discharge; normal diet after four hours.

Key Takeaways

• Capsule endoscopy visualizes the entire small bowel without sedation.
• AI-assisted image review flags subtle vascular lesions quickly.
• Early diagnosis reduces repeat procedures and overall cost of care.

Think hidden bleeding might be the root of your fatigue?