Patency
Capsule Endoscopy

Patency Capsule Endoscopy Preparation Instructions

About Patency Capsule:

A patency capsule is a dissolvable capsule that is ingested to verify the patency of your gastrointestinal tract. This is especially important to do prior to receiving a capsule endoscopy, If your provider suspects strictures/narrowing in the small bowel.

Check in Details:

☐ Please check in between: 7:45 – 8:00 AM
☐ If you arrive later than 8:00 am, we will NOT be able to proceed with the Patency Capsule Endoscopy.

What to bring and do prior to your procedure:

☐ You should plan on being at our facility for at least 10 minutes.
☐ Read prep instructions THOROUGHLY.

Weight Loss/Diabetes Medications:

• GLP-1 Agonists: including Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), Victoza, Saxenda (liraglutide), Adlyxin (lixisenatide), Ozempic, Wegovy (semaglutide subcutaneous), Bydureon BCise (exenatide extended-release), Byetta (exenatide), Rybelsus (semaglutide tablet), Stop the oral or injectable medication one week prior to your test.

If you have diabetes, follow these instructions:

• Long-Acting Insulins (ex. Lantus, Basaglar, Semglee, Toujeo, Insulin Glargine): Do not take any long-acting basal insulins the day before or the day of your procedure.
• Rapid-Acting and Regular Short-Acting Insulin (ex. Lispro, Humalog, Admelog, Regular Insulin): If your blood sugar is high and you need to take a correction, take ½ or 50% of your usual correction. This applies to the day before and the day of your procedure.
• Insulin Pump: Decrease basal rate by ½ the day before and the day of your procedure. Do not administer bolus doses.
• Other Diabetic Oral & Injectable Medications (ex. Metformin, Glipizide, Sulfonylureas, Tradjenta, Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP IV) Inhibitors, Januvia, Janumet, Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors): Do not take the day before or the day of your procedure.
• Check your blood sugar at same intervals as usual, and additionally, if needed: If your blood sugar is less than 60, please take glucose tablets at any time before your procedure with a sip of water.

Procedure Cancellation Notice Requirements:

• Procedure cancellations must be made three (3) business days prior to your appointment.
• Failure to provide the required advance notice will result in a $50 Total Cancellation Fee.

Checklist to Ensure Proper Preparation

​To ensure the proper completion of your procedure, we strongly suggest that you PRINT OUT this document and check off each of the instructions as you complete them.

​5 days before your exam:

☐ Please contact our office at 303-604-5000 if you have problems with constipation.
We will inform you of any special requirements we may have you do.

​1 Day before your exam:

☐ You may have a regular breakfast in the morning, but after 9 am, begin a clear liquid diet.
☐ If you have diabetes, please see Diabetes instructions above.
☐ You can have clear liquids up until 10 pm – NO solid foods.
☐ AFTER 10 pm, please take NOTHING by mouth, not even medication.
☐ Do NOT smoke or chew tobacco 24 hours prior to your exam, it may cause issues with your procedure.
☐ The charts below will show you clear liquid diet examples of what you can and cannot drink:

The day of your exam:

☐ No medication should be taken before 10 am the day of your exam. You CAN resume medications 2 hours after ingesting the capsule.
☐ Do NOT arrive to your exam later than 8:00 am. We will not be able to proceed if you do.
☐ At the office, you will ingest the patency capsule. You will receive an x-ray order to obtain an
abdominal x-ray 24 hours after you swallow the patency capsule. Depending on these
results, your provider will decide if we can proceed with a capsule endoscopy.
☐ You may have clear liquids 2 hours after swallowing the capsule.
☐ You may have a light meal 6 hours after swallowing the capsule.

Instructions/expectations following the exam:

☐ After ingesting the capsule and until it is excreted, you should not be near any electromagnetic fields,
such as an MRI device or amateur (ham) radio.
☐ Do not be concerned if you do not excrete the capsule, sometimes this does happen.
☐ Depending on the x-ray results, we will contact you to discuss the steps to how we will proceed.
If you do not hear back from us in 48 hours from when the x-ray was done, please contact
our office: 303-604-5000.

Download Prep Instructions