A hospital in Kent has launched a new diagnostic service that allows patients to swallow a pill-sized camera to check for symptoms of bowel cancer, offering an alternative to traditional, invasive colonoscopies, bbc.co.uk reported.
Swallowable Camera Replaces Traditional Colonoscopy at Medway Maritime Hospital
Patients referred with symptoms that may indicate bowel cancer can now undergo a colon capsule endoscopy instead of a standard procedure involving a long, flexible tube inserted through the bottom, medway.nhs.uk reported. The service officially began on October 28 at Medway Maritime Hospital.
The swallowable device is no larger than a standard vitamin tablet, according to medway.nhs.uk. As it travels naturally through the digestive tract, it captures two high-resolution images every second. A data recorder worn around the patient’s waist stores the footage, which takes between five and eight hours to record before the capsule passes out of the body and can be flushed away.
Patient compares camera pill with traditional colonoscopy
Mark Freeman, a 65-year-old from Walderslade, became the first patient to use the technology on the day of its launch, according to bbc.co.uk. He described the process to bbc.co.uk as straightforward and pain-free.
Four years ago I underwent a traditional colonoscopy,
Mr. Freeman told bbc.co.uk, noting that the older method required sedation and a six-hour hospital stay. By contrast, his appointment with the camera pill lasted about an hour from start to finish, allowing him to swallow the capsule and return home to continue his normal day.
Doctors refer patients directly for minimally invasive test
General practitioners can now refer suitable patients directly for the minimally invasive test, helping individuals access investigations more quickly, medway.nhs.uk reported. Once the procedure is complete, clinical staff download the images from the waist-mounted data recorder.
Medical professionals analyze the high-resolution photographs to identify signs of cancer as well as other conditions such as Crohn’s disease, according to medway.nhs.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Medway Capsule Camera Test
How does the camera exit the body?
The capsule travels through the digestive system naturally, taking between five and eight hours, and can be safely flushed away after it passes out of the body, medway.nhs.uk reported.
What conditions can the device detect?
Clinical staff analyze the images captured by the device to identify potential signs of bowel cancer as well as other conditions like Crohn’s disease, according to medway.nhs.uk.
Who is eligible for the capsule endoscopy at Medway Maritime Hospital?
Suitable patients experiencing symptoms that may indicate bowel cancer can now be referred directly by their GP for the minimally invasive test, medway.nhs.uk reported.
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