Abstract Background Patency capsule (PC) ingestion has been proven to be a useful tool in assessing small-bowel patency before ingestion of capsule endoscope. However, false positive results of un-passed PC due to colonic hypomotility/constipation, may wrongfully preclude the use of CE in this population. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intense bowel-preparation protocol before PC ingestion versus standard clear fluid-diet to reduce un-passed PC rates in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) in clinical remission. Methods This was a bicenter cohort of adult patients (≥18 years-old) with small-bowel CD (L1/L3) in clinical remission, who underwent PC ingestion before CE procedure. Each center regularly follows a different preparation protocol. Patients in the intense-protocol group adhered to a low-residue diet followed by a clear fluid diet for 12 hours and fasting for 12 hours before ingestion. During capsule ingestion they were also given 10mg of Bisacodyl. Drinking and eating were resumed after 2- and 4-hours post-ingestion, respectively. Clear fluids were consumed by the control group. Propensity-score matching (PSM) in a 1:1.75 ratio was performed with adjustment for age, sex, CD-duration>1year and B2/B3 disease-phenotype, with regards to the intense preparation-protocol. The primary outcome was defined as un-passed PC (i.e., the absence of PC excretion in the stool or its presence in the abdomen by abdominal X-ray within 30 hours from ingestion). Results 269 patients were included (intense group-79, control group-190). The cohort following the PSM comprised of 212 patients (intense group-77, control group-135). Current biologic use was less common in the intense-protocol group compared to the controls (37.7% vs. 61.2%, p=0.001). Un-passed PC rates were 13.0% (10/77 patients) vs. 19.3% (26/135 patients) in the intense-protocol and the control groups, respectively (p=0.242). On univariable analysis longer disease-duration (OR 1.042, 95% CI 1.002-1.085, p=0.040) was the only variable to be associated with un-passed PC. Age≥40 was associated with increased risk for un-passed PC as well, however only borderline significance was achieved (OR 1.917, 95% CI 0.927-3.967, p=0.085). Upon multivariate logistic regression analysis, there was no clinico-demographic/disease-related variable that was independently associated with the probability for un-passed PC. Of 269 patients, there was a single subsequent CE retention in the control group, which has resolved spontaneously (0.4%). Conclusion Intense-preparation protocol based on low-residue diet and laxatives was not superior to clear fluid diet alone, for reducing the rates of un-passed PC and for increasing successful patency test of small-bowel, among CD patients in clinical remission.