Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) has launched a new pill camera for patients in the region. Parvish Kumar, the director and CEO of PSH, announced that the pill camera was recently introduced and has already yielded successful results.
The capsule endoscopy system involves a small, ingestible capsule that allows doctors to visualize the small bowel, the segment of the intestine connecting the stomach to the large intestine, which plays a crucial role in digestion and metabolic processes. This technology is employed to diagnose and monitor various conditions affecting the digestive tract.
During the procedure, patients swallow a capsule similar in size to a large vitamin, which contains a camera and light source that captures images of the small intestine as it moves through the digestive system. The images are transmitted to a recorder worn on a belt across the body, aided by a sensor belt that facilitates the process.
Mr. Kumar emphasized that capsule endoscopy offers a non-invasive method for PSH doctors to specifically visualize the small bowel, which is often inaccessible via traditional endoscopy methods.
The capsule endoscopy is particularly useful for diagnosing several conditions, such as identifying the source of small bowel bleeding, diagnosing inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and screening for polyps and potential tumors in the digestive tract.
Bowel cancer is known to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in various countries, following lung cancer.
In a Q&A segment, PSH provided further information about the procedure:
Q: How long does the procedure take?
A: The initial process at Pacific Specialist Healthcare Hospital typically takes about 30 minutes. Once the sensor belt is applied to your abdomen and the recorder is connected, you can swallow the capsule and leave. The test lasts several hours during which normal activities can be continued.
Q: What happens after returning the recorder and sensors to PSH?
A: The images captured are downloaded from the recorder to a computer, where doctors review them in color video format. Patients will be contacted with the results afterwards.
Q: Will there be any discomfort from the capsule?
A: No, patients should experience no discomfort when swallowing the capsule or as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract. The capsule is disposable and will exit the body naturally during bowel movements.