Lanka Hospitals launches advanced ‘one-stop’ Gastroenterology Centre

Centre Lanka Hospitals, Sri Lanka’s internationally accredited multi-specialty tertiary care hospital announces the commissioning of a state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment centre for gastro-intestinal (GI) disorders with the most advanced technology in the private sector.

The GE Centre is a fully-fledged unit where gastrointestinal disorders can be diagnosed and treated with state- of-the-art equipment under the care of highly specialised medical professionals. This unique one-stop centre where patients could directly walk-in is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka.

“Gastroenterology is the medical specialty devoted to study, diagnose and treat disorders of the digestive system. These disorders may affect the esophagus (swallowing tube), stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. This one-stop centre provides total care for any disease/condition of the digestive system including diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and guidance,” says GE Centre Head Dr. Devika Kasthuriarachchi.

The ultimate aim of the GE Centre is to be on par with international healthcare standards and to ensure the provision of swift, efficient and cost-effective treatment under one roof for patients suffering from conditions such as abdominal discomfort, heart-burn, altered bowel habits or any other GI related ailment.

State-of-the-art equipment: Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Endo Bronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) and PH Manometry

The Lanka Hospitals GE Centre also holds the exclusivity in providing Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Endo Bronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) and PH Manometry studies using world class equipment, on par with hospitals in the developed world. 

EUS combines endoscopy and ultrasound in order to obtain images and information about the digestive tract and the surrounding tissue and organs. Scoping is a procedure of inserting a long flexible tube via the mouth (Endoscopy) or the rectum (Colonoscopy) to visualise the digestive tract, while ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the organs and structures around the GI tract.

 “Traditional ultrasound transmits sound waves to the organ(s) and back with a transducer placed externally on the skin over the organ. In EUS, a comparatively small ultrasound transducer which is installed on the tip of the Scope, and by inserting the Scope into the upper or lower digestive tract, one can obtain high quality ultrasound images of the organs such as lymph nodes and blood vessels,” says Head of Surgical Care Dr. Deepthi De Silva Karunatilleke.

“EUS is able to provide extensive details, as if seeing through the wall hence a growing cancer or any other abnormality which has not penetrated the walls could be detected. The availability of EUS has made diagnostics much more affordable and convenient for the patient as the absence of a EUS investigation means that the patient will have to undergo more expensive alternative investigations,” Dr. De Silva Karunatilleke added.

He also mentioned that the long waiting-list of government hospitals that offer the services of EUS compels critical patients to travel to neighbouring countries such as Singapore, which for some can be prohibitively expensive.

EBUS combines Scoping with ultra-sonography to identify lesions within and around the trachea (wind pipe) and helps to detect tumours and other life threatening conditions in advance.

Specialised training for medical professionals

LH conducted a two-day workshop, facilitated by Dr. Bavesh Dhoshi – the renowned Consultant Gastroenterologist from the National University Hospital Singapore to introduce and train staff on the EUS, EBUS machine.

“Lanka Hospitals has got one of the best GE centres of the world here, spacious and with all the advanced technology, similar to Singapore,” he further added.

The workshop was attended by Sri Lanka’s prominent Gastroenterologists, GI surgeons, Onco-surgeons and Physicians. 

Lanka Hospitals is also equipped with pH Manometry. PH studies help identify patients with acid related problems and in combination with impedance studies, it can clearly demarcate reflux activity; which in-turn supports physicians to classify Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Diseases (GERD) accurately as acidic or non-acidic, assisting in management of patients with proper medical or surgical regimes. Manometry measures the pressures and the pattern of muscle contractions in the Esophagus, which will help determine abnormalities in the contractions and strength of the muscle or in the sphincter at the lower end of the Esophagus.

“It measures the rhythmic muscle contractions that occur in the oesophagus when you swallow, the coordination and force exerted by the muscles of your oesophagus and also evaluates function of lower digestive tract in patients with constipation or stool leakage,” says Dr. Kasthuriarachchi.

High Resolution PH Manometry Testing is available in only two state sector hospitals in Sri Lanka. On November 4th, Lanka Hospitals conducted a workshop on pH Menometry which was attended by Gastroenterologists, GI surgeons, Onco-surgeons, Physicians and other medical staff.

Lanka Hospitals’ GE Centre is a unique ‘One-Stop-Centre’ that is not found anywhere else in the country where all GI diagnostics and treatment could be provided to patients efficiently.