Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) has launched a new pill cam for its patients in the region. Parvish Kumar, the director and CEO of PSH, announced that the pill cam was recently introduced and has shown promising results thus far.
The capsule endoscopy system is a small, ingestible capsule that allows physicians to visualize the small intestine, which connects the stomach to the large intestine and aids in digestion. This technology is instrumental in diagnosing and monitoring various digestive tract conditions.
During the procedure, patients swallow a capsule similar in size to a large vitamin. According to Mr. Kumar, “Capsule Endoscopy offers a non-invasive solution for our doctors at Pacific Specialist Healthcare to examine the small bowel, which is typically inaccessible through other endoscopy methods.” The capsule is equipped with a tiny camera and light that captures images of the small intestine as it moves through the digestive system. These images are transmitted to a recorder that the patient wears on a strap around their body, aided by a sensor belt that facilitates the image transfer to the recording system.
PSH has begun pioneering the use of a wireless recorder belt for patients. Capsule endoscopy is particularly useful for several conditions, including:
– Identifying the cause of bleeding in the small bowel, the most common rationale for undergoing capsule endoscopy.
– Diagnosing inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
– Screening for polyps and diagnosing cancer by searching for potential tumors in the digestive tract.
Bowel cancer ranks as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in certain countries, following lung cancer.
In response to common questions:
– **Q: How long does the procedure take?**
A: The initial process at Pacific Specialist Healthcare Hospital takes about 30 minutes. After placing the sensor belt on your abdomen and connecting the recorder, you can swallow the capsule and then continue your regular activities for a few hours while the test is being conducted.
– **Q: What occurs after I return the recorder and sensors?**
A: Images collected during the procedure are downloaded from the recorder to a computer, where doctors will analyze them in a color video format. Patients will then be contacted with the results.
– **Q: Will I experience any pain or discomfort from the capsule?**
A: No, patients should not feel discomfort when swallowing the capsule or as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract. The capsule is disposable and is excreted naturally.