The 350-bed NIMS Medicity here has introduced wireless capsule endoscopy, a new diagnostic tool for detection of small intestine diseases non-invasively. Capsule endoscopy, the most advanced facility in modern medicine, does not require insertion of endoscope into the body.

At the NIMS Institute of Liver Studies and Gastroenterology, it is all about a swallowable video capsule featuring a tiny camera.

TWO IMAGES

It can create two images every second for up to eight hours, transmitting them to a data recorder — about the size of a portable CD player — that patients wear around the waist. Once the patient swallows the capsule, it takes pictures of the inside of the gastrointestinal tract.

Capsule endoscopy allows non-invasive endoscopic examination of the entire small intestine.

Dr D. Jayakumar, hepatologist and Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist at NIMS Medicity said that the new tool could be used to diagnose bleeding of the small intestine, tumours and ulcers.

PAINLESS PROCEDURE

Capsule endoscopy is primarily used to examine areas not usually within the range of other types of endoscopy such as colonoscopy or esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD).

Aside from allowing the small intestine to be seen and examined, capsule endoscopy is painless and has found wide acceptance from the patient community.

Endoscope capsules are easier to ingest than a large vitamin pill as their smooth outer shell permits easier passage down the throat. Nor does it require any sedation. Instead of being forced to lie down still on an examination table during the exam, patients can walk straight after ingestion of the capsule.

They can even resume normal chores even while the capsules are clicking away inside the body.

A spokesman for NIMS Medicity claimed that it is the first hospice in entire south India to install capsule endoscopy.

vinson@thehindu.co.in