Diseases of the small intestine may present with abdominal pain, bleeding, a low blood count, chronic diarrhea or an obstruction to the passage of food. Occasionally, abnormal thickening or cancers of the small intestine may be identified on abdominal scans.
Evaluation of the small intestine represents a unique challenge to doctors as it is extremely long, tortuous and deep within the digestive tract. The two modalities frequently used to examine the small intestine include:
- Wireless video capsule endoscopy
- Small intestine enteroscopy
- Wireless video capsule endoscopy
Capsule endoscopy is a painless diagnostic procedure that uses a tiny camera to inspect the digestive tract. The camera sits inside a transparent pill which is swallowed by the patient with water, just as one would swallow a tablet.
As the capsule travels through the digestive tract, the camera takes thousands of pictures over the next 8 to 10 hours which are transmitted wirelessly to a recording device and converted into a video. Once the recording is complete, the capsule is passed out from the bowels in the next few days.
The video is then screened by a doctor who examines the small intestines for any problems. If abnormalities are seen, then further evaluation with an enteroscopy may be required.
- Enteroscopy
The small intestine may be examined with the use of a specially designed endoscope called an enteroscope.
An enteroscope is an ultra-flexible endoscope, which is longer and more flexible than the standard endoscope. The single balloon enteroscopy performed at KTPH uses a specially designed over-tube to assist in deep small bowel insertion, either via the mouth or the anus.
Balloon enteroscopy at KTPH is performed using carbon dioxide insufflation instead of air for a more comfortable experience. This procedure enables the direct visualization of abnormalities of the small intestine, biopsies to be obtained for further analysis and the treatment of intestinal disorders beyond the reach of the conventional endoscopes.
