Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) has launched a new pill camera for patients in the country. Parvish Kumar, the director and CEO of PSH, announced that the capsule endoscopy system has recently been implemented with successful results so far.
This innovative ingestible capsule allows doctors to visualize the small bowel, which connects the stomach to the large intestine and plays a vital role in digestion and metabolic processes. Capsule endoscopy can diagnose and monitor various conditions within the digestive tract.
The procedure involves swallowing a small capsule, comparable in size to a large vitamin. Mr. Kumar explained, “Capsule Endoscopy provides a non-invasive method for our doctors to visualize the small bowel, which is otherwise inaccessible during traditional endoscopy procedures.” The capsule contains a tiny camera and light source that captures images of the small intestine as it travels through the digestive system. These images are transmitted to a recorder worn on a strap across the patient’s body, with a sensor belt aiding in the transmission of data.
The application of capsule endoscopy is crucial in several conditions, including identifying the cause of bleeding in the small bowel, diagnosing inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and screening for polyps or tumors in the digestive tract.
Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in many countries, following lung cancer.
Frequently asked questions about the procedure include:
Q: How long does the procedure take?
A: Patients typically spend about 30 minutes at PSH to begin the process. Once the sensor belt is attached, the recorder connected, and the capsule swallowed, patients can leave. The test duration is a few hours, during which patients can continue their normal activities.
Q: What happens after returning the recorder and sensors?
A: The images captured during the procedure will be downloaded to a computer for doctors to review. Patients will then receive their results.
Q: Will there be any pain or discomfort from the capsule?
A: Patients should not experience discomfort when swallowing the capsule or while it traverses the gastrointestinal tract. The capsule is disposable and will exit the body naturally during bowel movements.