Many patients raise a question about the feasibility of the capsule camera in diagnosis and treatment, and its availability, and whether it dispenses with traditional endoscopy of the digestive system. .

The discovery of the wireless video endoscopy or video capsule endoscopy is one of the exciting transformations in the field of detection of the entire alimentary canal, especially those areas that cannot be reached by traditional endoscopes, such as most parts of the small intestine, where they can obtain high-resolution images with a magnification power of up to 8 times, and this is greater than the ability of traditional endoscopes in terms of magnification in the image, as it allows to see clearly the lining of the intestine, and it obtains images in the case of the digestive canal in its normal position (that is, it does not require pumping an amount of air into the channel, as is the case in endoscopes Therefore, the images taken are closer to the natural situation without any stretching due to air).

The capsule entered the market and became accessible to doctors in the year 2000 AD. It consists of the capsule (the same camera and the other part is a portable digital data recorder). Its feasibility has been well demonstrated in identifying some cases of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract when the source of bleeding cannot be known by traditional endoscopes. It is useful in some intestinal infections or some types of tumors inside the small intestine. It is also useful in knowing the effect of medications, especially anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the lining of the small intestine, and also useful in knowing the health status of the villi, and thus it is possible to know the extent of the intestine’s ability to absorb and this gives an indication of the work Additional tests to ensure the integrity of the intestinal lining from some diseases, such as wheat allergy (celiac disease)

capsule size

Capsule action steps:

The capsule can be made for the patient, whether inside or outside the hospital, so that the patient fasts from eating and drinking for 12 hours before swallowing the capsule. Its size is approximately 11 mm by 26 mm) with a little water. Some sensors are installed on the skin of the disease in different areas (chest and abdomen), which in turn are connected to a digital recording device to store the images captured by the capsule camera in the form of (JPEG files). The device also contains a source Energy (rechargeable battery), then all of them are placed in a belt installed around the patient’s waist and lasts for 8 hours, then the patient returns and the digital device is taken and all the pictures from it are uploaded to the computer to be viewed, and the camera takes pictures at a high speed (two pictures per second) so that the doctor has 55 A thousand images need to be reviewed accurately, as some diseases may not be seen in only one or two images out of all this number of images, so reading the images and issuing the report may take approximately an hour and a half, also it is possible to know the speed of movement Intestines if the images were viewed by video at different speeds.

No damage

It is clear to us from the features of the capsule camera that there is no type of damage that can accompany traditional endoscopes from swelling, pain, perforation or rupture in the intestinal wall, but one of the weaknesses of the capsule is that it does not allow taking a sample of the internal tissues of the intestine or making any intervention My treatment is ligation, injection, cauterization, laser, or stapling of bleeding tissues, for example, and all of these interventions can be done accurately when using traditional endoscopes. Also, one of the weaknesses is that the capsule does not reach the rectum (the last part of the intestine) at the time specified for registration in about 25% of cases, which means that the colon is not fully examined in such cases, and this problem appears significantly in the case of inpatients, or those who have previously had an operation for the small intestine, or when the preparatory solutions are not taken accurately, or the patient suffers from very slow movement stomach like some diabetics.

The capsule is swallowed with a little water

It is also advised not to use it in some cases, such as Alzheimer’s patients, or when it is known that there is a narrowing in the esophagus or intestines, or patients whose health condition does not allow them to perform operations if necessary, or who have a pacemaker.

However, the capsule has multiple benefits. In an American study at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, it was published in the 2008 Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Journal. The research included 40 doctors. A meeting was conducted with each separately before and after the capsule was made in 98 patients. The doctors changed the treatment plan for 67% of the patients. The doctors mentioned that the change in the treatment plan was directly based on the results obtained from the capsule report.

Another American study published in (Gastrointest Endosc 2002) indicated that researchers had found out the source of bleeding from the small intestine in 11 out of 21 patients whose source of bleeding was not identified by all other methods (obscure bleeding), i.e. 55%.

Hence, it becomes clear to us the difference between these medical devices and the feasibility and distinction of each one from the other, so the specialist doctor’s choice of any type of them depends on the type and conditions of the patient’s health condition.

Some hospitals and advanced medical centers in the Kingdom have provided this type of camera so that specialized doctors can reach the correct diagnosis to help advance health care.

portable data storage device