On the day of your VCE of the large bowel
Video capsule endoscopy of the large bowel
Follow these instructions before your appointment.
- Keep drinking clear fluids. You can drink clear fluids up to 3 hours before your appointment.
- You must not eat at all (including gum, sweets and mints).
- Essential medicines can be taken with water, but only before 6am.
- Non-essential medicines can wait until you have a snack at lunchtime.
- If you have diabetes, check with the nurse if you can take your morning medicines.
- Do not smoke until after your endoscopy. If you think this might be difficult for you, please speak to your GP or nurse for advice.
Bowel preparation medicine
If you are prescribed Plenvu
On the morning of the procedure, at 6am:
- Put the second sachet of A and B Plenvu into 500ml of water.
- Stir the solution until the Plenvu has dissolved.
- In a separate container, pour an additional 500ml of clear fluid (water, clear soup, tea or coffee without milk, or any other clear fluid). The clear fluid helps with the taste, and prevents dehydration.
- Alternate drinking both solutions (the Plenvu solution and clear fluid). Consume the solution within 60 to 90 minutes.
If you are prescribed MoviPrep
On the morning of the procedure at 6am:
- Empty the second sachet of A and B MoviPrep into 1 litre of water.
- Stir the solution until the MoviPrep has dissolved.
- Drink the solution over the next 60 to 90 minutes.
At your appointment
Please be on time. If you are going to be late, please call the reception desk in case the appointment has to be rescheduled.
Please wear a loose top that buttons up or zips up at the front.
We will place a sensor belt or sensor array and recorder pouch on you.
We will give you the video capsule to swallow with water.
The video capsule real-time viewer will be used to check the pictures, and to make sure the capsule is recording well before you leave the hospital.
After swallowing the video capsule
Please follow these instructions carefully. The recorder will alert you. There are 5 alerts. Pease follow these instructions depending on which alert you get.
| Alert | Action |
|---|---|
| 0 |
|
| 1 |
|
| 2 |
3 hours later you might get another alert. If you do get this alert:
|
| 3 |
2 hours later, you might get another alert. If you do get this alert:
|
| 4 |
2 hours later, you might get another alert. If you do get this alert:
|
| End of procedure alert |
When you get this alert, the VCE is complete. This alert can happen any time after Alert 1.
|
After your VCE
Your consultant will send a capsule review report and summary letter to you and your GP. This can take up to 4 weeks.
If you do not pass the capsule
If you have not passed the capsule within 7 days, please call the capsule endoscopy nurse or capsule practitioner on duty. If it is out of hours call the on-call gastroenterology doctor.
Alternatively, you can take a one-off dose of laxative, such as senna tablets. You can buy get these from a pharmacy.
You must not have an MRI examination until you have passed the capsule.
Contact your hospital team if:
- you have tummy pain that is getting worse
- your tummy is swelling
- you are being sick
Contacting us about your results
For information about the capsule consultant report review, summary letter and gastro review outcome, phone: 020 7188 8887 extension 40407 or 40331 or email: [email protected]
For surgical review outcome, phone: 020 7188 8887 ext 86475
Resource number: 5264/VER4
Date published: August 2024
Review date: August 2027
