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.
Virtual Colonoscopy
Virtual colonoscopy is a type of examination providing 3D reconstruction of the colorectal area. In order to perform this test a CT (scan) is required with the necessary technology to perform 3D reconstructions.
Virtual colonoscopies are intended for the following cases:
- People with a family history of colon cancer as prevention measure.
- Patients with previous diseases and high clinical risk. For example, patients taking anticoagulation therapies, breathing impairment or advanced age patients.
- When the traditional colonoscopy cannot reach the total length of the examination because of the bowel stenosis or obstruction caused for example by a tumor or previous inflammatory processes.
Virtual colonoscopy takes place in a radiology suite with a CT (scan). It does not cause pain or discomfort and does not require anesthesia or sedation. Before starting the test, the colon is air-inflated to expand it and avoid any fold or wrinkle on the walls which may hide polyps or injuries.
The duration of the tests is of 15-20 minutes approximately during which the CT makes two scans with the patient facing upwards and downwards to have a complete 3D image of the area to examine.
Advantages of the virtual colonoscopy
- Election test for the detection of colon cancer in people with a family history.
- Less complications than with traditional colonoscopy.
- Scientific evidence of the efficiency when detecting polyps and other large intestine conditions.
- It is painless.
- Does not require anesthesia or sedation.
- Patient may resume his daily activities immediately after the test.
Just as with traditional colonoscopy, the patient undergoing a virtual colonoscopy requires prior preparation for the colon to be clean and to detect any pathology or injury.