HTA Details
Capsule Endoscopy in the Assessment of Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Publication date
-
2015-February-01
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Digestive System
- Recommendation
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Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendations:
- The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends that small-bowel capsule endoscopy continue to be used as a diagnostic procedure in determining the etiology of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with negative upper and lower endoscopic evaluations.
- Given the severity of the risk of capsule retention, the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends discussion between patients and physicians with respect to this potential risk.
- Ministry Response
-
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has accepted this recommendation.
-
To read the full OHTAC Recommendation Report for this topic, contact our Health Innovation team using the contact form to request a digital copy.
Gastrointestinal bleeding occurs when the lining of the digestive tract, the series of organs that help the body digest food, becomes damaged. In about 5% of cases, the cause of the bleeding cannot be determined with routine medical tests. This is known as obscure bleeding and it most often happens in the small intestine (small bowel). This organ has many complex folds, which can make it hard to find the location and cause of the problem.
Capsule endoscopy is a procedure sometimes used to diagnose obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. This technology allows doctors to examine the digestive tract by using a pill-sized camera. The patient swallows the camera (it is later excreted in the stool) and the camera transmits pictures as it passes through the digestive tract.
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
