Team LivGastro provides utility based model of care that integrates specialists, primary care , laboratory, imaging and other health services to give patients a convenient and superior outcome along with a pleasant experience. Since we primarily focus on outdoor-patient care, on the site instant testing along with detailed and accurate results, we enable our patients and their families save
a lot of effort, time and money.
Capsule Endoscopy is just another type of endoscopy, with a slight difference. In this medical procedure, the patient swallows a tiny video camera put inside a capsule. The capsule protects the mechanisms inside. This is a diagnosis procedure but is much easier than the normal Endoscopy, although it may be more expensive.
Before the procedure can begin, the patient is administered laxatives to clear the digestive system of residual food and debris of bacteria. Once this is done, the patient is told to swallow a pill containing the video camera. Although the pill is larger than any pill you’ll ever see, it is still easy to swallow. It is interesting to know what the capsule contains: a couple of video chips, one battery, one light bulb and one radio transmitter.
When the patient swallows the pill or capsule, it travels down the digestive system: from the oesophagus to the small intestines. The mechanism is able to take photos quickly, which are relayed with the help of the inbuilt transmitter to a very small receiver on the waist of the patient. The entire process takes no more than 8 hours. Once the process is complete, the patient may pass the device away through stool, which is not retrieved.
Capsule Endoscopy can help in the diagnosis of:
Capsule Endoscopy is the easiest method of making a diagnosis of the intestines. However, it is not without problems. In fact, it is beset with several problems.
Firstly, at times the capsule travels too fast to notice the abnormalities. At such times, the capsule can a best transmit blurred images. This can also happen due to the body’s retention of food debris.
Secondly, there are times the capsule travels too slow and ends up examining only one part of the intestines. Since the battery life is just 8 hours, it may not find the problem after all.
Thirdly, even if some abnormalities are discovered, it is hard to pin point where in the intestines the problem is arising from.
Fourthly, there is a risk that the capsule can get stuck in strictures or narrow walls of the intestines.
Fifthly, a single capsule transmits around 10000 photos. For any doctor or examiner, this can be very time consuming.
