Hemas first to introduce revolutionary capsule endoscopy

Saturday, 26 February 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Hemas Hospitals, who have constantly strived towards providing the best medical care to the nation, brings another first by introducing capsule endoscopy. Hemas Hospital is the first private hospital in the industry to provide the facility in Sri Lanka.

Capsule endoscopy is a revolutionary new diagnostic tool for the detection of small bowel disease. As the name implies, capsule endoscopy makes use of a swallowable capsule which contains a micro video camera, LED lights and a transmitter. It is the only technique that allows non-invasive endoscopic examination of the entire small bowel without sedation.

Capsule endoscopy is mostly recommended for patients with bleeding of unknown origin (obscure bleeding) of the intestines. The commonest reasons for such bleeding are arteriovenous malformations, small bowel tumors, and ulcers which are commonly missed at standard endoscopy and imaging examinations.

When performing this test a jacket with sensor devices is worn over the abdomen by the patient which captures and stores the images transmitted by the capsule while passing through the digestive tract. The stored images are subsequently downloaded to a computer which allows the physician to view and diagnose problems.

The main advantage of capsule endoscopy is the ability to non-invasively evaluate the inside of the entire small bowel. Conventional endoscopic techniques allow examination of only the most proximal and distal portions of the small bowel, leaving the majority of the small bowel unexamined.

Speaking of the advantages of this procedure, a hospital spokesperson stated that it’s pain free, has no exposure to harmful radiation like in X Ray or CT Scans and no sedation is required. He further added that this procedure can be done as a day procedure and has no complications or side effects.

Hemas Hospital stays true to its promise of being the future of family healthcare by becoming the pioneer in introducing technological advancements to the medical industry.

Hemas Hospitals is a subsidiary of Hemas Holdings, one of Sri Lanka's leading conglomerates with a focus on five key sectors - FMCG, Healthcare, Transportation, Leisure and Power generation.