Spiral Enteroscopy, SPIRAL ENTEROSCOPY Procedure, SPIRAL ENTEROSCOPY benefits, Enteroscopy, Endoscopy, Small Bowel Diagnosis
Spiral Enteroscopy- What it is, How is it performed, Benefits and more
The latest minimally invasive technology in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the small intestine, Motorised Power Spiral Enteroscopy has created a paradigm shift, proving to be a boon for both patients as well as doctors.
Overview
The small intestine has always been an area that has been difficult to access by endoscopists, being so long, convoluted and beyond the reach of normal endoscopes. While the introduction of Video Capsule Endoscopy (VCE) greatly improved the evaluation of Small-bowel endoscopy, it has its own limitations. VCE permits the visualization of the entire small intestine but is limited by the inability to take biopsy specimens and to perform therapeutic procedures.
The latest minimally invasive technology in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the small intestine, Motorised Power Spiral Enteroscopy has created a paradigm shift, proving to be a boon not just for patients but also for doctors. The state-of-the-art technology is a great tool in small-bowel diagnostics and therapeutics, with speed and ease which are only further plus points for this procedure.
Spiral enteroscopy achieves progression by gentle push and manual clockwise rotation inducing pleating of the small bowel on the endoscope. It has the advantage of shorter examination time and more stability during withdrawal but it also requires two operators.
Why should I get a Spiral Enteroscopy?
- To evaluate your medical condition by getting a look at your gastrointestinal tract
- To examine the small intestine
Enteroscopy is a form of endoscopy that uses a thin, flexible scope to capture video images of your small intestine and sometimes to treat conditions on the spot.
What are the benefits of the procedure?
- To quickly reach far into the intestine to examine, and where possible, treat your condition with precise control.
- Your doctor can perform a biopsy, remove small tumors and polyps, treat bleeding and dilate (open) intestinal narrowing.
Spiral enteroscopy can be performed in as little as twenty minutes but may require more time depending on your condition.
What is involved in the procedure?
- The procedure will be performed with you lying on your left side.
- The physician will usually administer something to help you relax and remain comfortable throughout the procedure and medications will be administered through an intravenous line.
- The endoscopist advances the scope to the small intestine to inspect the area.
- The enteroscope has a lens and a light source that allows the endoscopist to get video images of the intestinal lining. The image on the monitor is highly magnified so the endoscopist can see minuscule changes in the tissue.
- The enteroscope contains channels that allow the endoscopist to obtain biopsies (small pieces of tissue), remove polyps and treat any bleeding.
None of these activities are painful, since the lining of the intestine does not experience pain.
What happens after the procedure?
There is little discomfort after the procedure and most people just experience fatigue.
While going home, make sure to arrange for a ride home and not drive yourself since you would have received sedatives and/or anaesthetics prior to the procedure and it is dangerous to drive a motor vehicle.
