Gastroscopy of the stomach is already underway without swallowing the probe. This procedure will appeal to those patients who do not want to experience a lot of discomfort in connection with the use of endoscopic equipment by specialists.
Is gastric gastroscopy possible without swallowing a probe?
Modern advances in science and technology have indeed made significant progress in terms of the development of endoscopic equipment. At present, gastroscopy of the stomach without swallowing the probe can already be performed. This is a study using a special capsule. This technique has appeared not so long ago. In the Russian Federation, it began to be practiced already in the 21st century. Currently, it is still significantly inferior in frequency of its usual gastroscopy, but gradually this figure is increasing.
What is the basis of the procedures?
To date, to solve this problem, a special camera is used, which is made in the form of a capsule. It has a relatively small size. Most often we are talking about a capsule with dimensions of 10 * 30 * 10 mm. This video capsule is capable of photographing with a fairly high frequency.
Even before the introduction of such a microendoscope, a special sensor is glued onto the patient's skin, to which all received information is transmitted.
Advantages of the technique
Every year, gastroscopy of the stomach without swallowing the probe is becoming increasingly popular. This is due to the fact that carrying out such a procedure is not associated with a large number of unpleasant sensations. In addition, this technique is ideal for anyone who has an over-expressed gag reflex.
Disadvantages of the method
In addition to the obvious advantages, such a survey of the stomach has disadvantages. First of all, we are talking about a rather high cost of the procedure. It is several times higher than the price for the classic version of gastroscopy. As a result, the patient will have to give up to 10,000 rubles. Such a high cost is due to the use of expensive tools in the process, and primarily video capsules. Even if gastroscopy of the stomach is performed under anesthesia, its price is approximately 7,000 rubles. So not everyone is able to afford a video capsule.
An even bigger drawback that a similar examination of the stomach has is the fact that it is not possible to perform a biopsy during it. It will also fail to more closely examine the pathologically altered area.
Often when conducting classical gastroscopy, patients are removed various kinds of polyps. This is necessary for the reason that these formations tend to malignant. Unfortunately, using a video capsule is not possible.
Where can I do gastroscopy?
This procedure is quite common. It is held in a huge number of various medical centers and hospitals. This prevalence is due to the high degree of demand for this procedure. In many hospitals, along with the classic version, gastroscopy of the stomach under anesthesia is also performed. The price of such a procedure is relatively high, but the discomfort in a person is noticeably less.
As for video capsule gastroscopy, it is not so easy to find a center where they use this innovative technique to study the stomach. Most often it is carried out in large regional centers, which, in addition to medical, are also engaged in scientific activities.
When do you need to undergo a gastroscopy?
In fact, there are a lot of indications for such a study. First of all, we are talking about those situations where the patient has constant pain in the epigastrium. In the event that the severity of these sensations is high enough, or if the patient has signs of internal bleeding, it is necessary to carry out the procedure urgently.
Gastroscopy is also performed when oncological search events are held. This procedure is also necessary when the patient has a deficit of body weight.
About Emergency Indications
In the event that the doctor has suspected internal bleeding in his patient, then a gastroscopy is performed. Analyzes in this case should show a low level of red blood cells and hemoglobin. In addition, clinical data are evaluated. In patients with internal bleeding, the abdomen will be hard (in the midst of doctors it is called "board-like"), and the skin will be pale.
For pain in the abdomen , it is imperative to pay attention to the color of feces that is released during bowel movements. If it is black, and before that a person has not taken activated charcoal, then it is urgent to consult a doctor for examination. In this case, gastroscopy is also likely to be performed.
Who to contact?
Before signing up for a procedure such as gastroscopy, it is best to first consult with a specialist. First of all, he will try to establish a diagnosis based on clinical and laboratory data. After that, if a more detailed diagnosis is necessary, the patient can discuss with his doctor various methods for examining the stomach and choose the most suitable for this case.
When you can’t check your stomach?
Currently, the number of contraindications for gastroscopy is not as great as it was recently. The fact is that in recent years the technical equipment of medical centers and hospitals has improved significantly. Thinner probes began to be used.
To date, contraindications for gastroscopy are all sorts of obstruction of the upper digestive tract. In addition, they do not perform the procedure in those cases when the patient is in serious condition.
Gastroscopy is also excluded when the patient has a disease such as hemophilia. Performing this procedure in this case is contraindicated due to the high risk of trauma to the gastric mucosa and the development of difficult to control bleeding. For similar reasons, they do not carry out such a study with varicose veins of the esophagus.
Gastroscopy preparation
In order for this procedure to provide the specialist with a sufficient amount of useful information, it is necessary to properly prepare. First of all, gastroscopy requires that the stomach is empty at the time of the study. Otherwise, the endoscopist simply will not be able to examine the entire mucous membrane. To do this, refuse to eat from the evening on the day before the procedure. The next morning, you can not only eat, but also take medicine and drink.
Psychological preparation is also very important. For this, the patient should be properly explained why, in his case, this study is necessary. Many, having heard about how to do gastroscopy, decide to abandon it. Before carrying out the examination, the patient is better off talking not with acquaintances, but with the doctor. He will not deny that such a procedure is not the most pleasant. In this case, the doctor will be able to inform the patient that its implementation will provide the necessary data in order to establish an accurate diagnosis and find a rational treatment.
How is gastroscopy performed for children?
This research method is used not only in adults, but also in babies. Moreover, the implementation of such a procedure in children is not much different from what happens to adults. Probably the most significant difference is a probe of a much smaller diameter than the one that is commonly used. Like adults, children usually have to treat the oral cavity with an anesthetic to reduce discomfort. It is worth noting that juvenile patients usually tolerate gastroscopy much easier than adults. This does not apply to very young children. They usually conduct such a study under general anesthesia.
What is a gastroscopy biopsy taken for?
One of the drawbacks of a photocapsule study is the fact that in the process of its carrying out it is impossible to take a sample of pathologically altered tissue. So most doctors prefer to use classic endoscopes in their activities. They allow not only to fix the camera on a section of the gastric mucosa that is of interest to the doctor, but in the future, with the consent of the patient, even take a small part of it for histopathological examination.
Today, biopsy during gastroscopy is performed more often. For this reason, the video capsule method of examining the stomach encounters obstacles to its popularization. So if, even before performing gastroscopy, it is assumed that the patient may have one or another serious pathology, then one should give preference to the classical options for its implementation.
What will gastroscopy show?
The conduct of this diagnostic procedure is aimed at assessing the condition of the mucous membrane of the human stomach.
The most common finding during gastroscopy is a chronic inflammatory process in a particular section of the gastric mucosa. This is due to the fact that gastritis develops in most people on the planet by the age of 30. The determining factor in its clinical course and health hazard is the degree of its activity and the fact of the presence of such a microorganism as Helicobacter pylori.
In addition to gastritis, during gastrocopy, it is often possible to detect ulcerative changes. Moreover, the patient does not always have classic symptoms of peptic ulcer.
Sometimes accidental findings in gastroscopy are polyps of the stomach. Often, immediately after a biopsy, they are removed using an endoscope.