Digestive Tests
Our installations are provided with highly skilled professionals and cutting-edge technology to perform the digestive tests necessary to achieve an early and personalized diagnosis. This combination within the same space provides CMED physicians access to the tests of each patient from their computers.
Capsule endoscopy
The capsule endoscopy is a digestive test which allows the thorough and minimally invasive visualization of the small intestine. It is specially indicated for the diagnosis of dark digestive bleeding, Crohn Disease, Celiac Disease, tumors of the small intestine, gastrointestinal polyposis syndromes and malabsorption syndromes of unknown origin.
In general the capsule endoscopy is prescribed for all diseases which do not allow an accurate diagnosis using other techniques (colonoscopy, gastroscopy, CT-scan or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). It can neither take biopsies nor perform therapeutic procedures, but provides a diagnosis and locates injuries within the digestive tract easing their treatment.
In order to develop these digestive tests, the patient will have to swallow this endoscopy capsule provided with a mini camera and a light source that will allow taking images of the whole tract from the mouth to its subsequent expulsion through the anus 24-48 hours after. It is of very small dimension (26x11mm) making it easy to swallow with some water.
Images taken by the camera (2 images per second) are recorded in a video recorder that the patient will carry on its waist during 8-10 hours of examination approximately. Throughout this time the patient may move freely and continue with his daily routines.
The capsule advances through the digestive tract according to the peristaltic gastrointestinal physiologic movements.
Once the exam is completed, the video recorder will be handed to the specialist in gastroenterology prescribing the test to process the images recorded (50,000) and obtain a diagnosis.
In order for the images to be clear and allow an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to prepare the patient in advance for the digestive system to be clean. This preparation will be explained by the specialist or staff of the clinic.
Once the test is concluded, the patient will excrete the disposable capsule through the anus naturally without discomfort during its excretion given its small size.