Small intestine capsule endoscopy
Conventional endoscopic procedures (gastroscopy and ileocolonoscopy) only allow examination of the uppermost and lowermost ends of the small intestine. Capsule endoscopy, however, offers doctors the ability to examine and diagnose the previously unaccessible small intestine with a camera in a capsule small enough to swallow.
Capsule endoscopy is only performed in particular situations (e.g. unexplained blood loss in the digestive system).
The cost of this examination is currently only covered by national health insurance in exceptional cases.