This is increasingly being used overseas.

Advantage:

Minimally invasive – all one needs to do is swallow the capsule with the camera

Unlike traditional colonoscopy – no need for sedation, less risks – main risk with capsule endoscopy is if the capsule is not passed in the setting of a narrowing of the bowel(ie stricture, tumour)

Disadvantages:

Less sensitive – ie more likely to miss polyps — this is because views are random depending on how the capsule is positioned as it moves through the colon. Hence if one has symptoms or positive faecal occult blood test, it is better to do a colonoscopy.

Also in Australia, the cost of this is not covered by Medicare