SBI 3U1 Unit 11-Bio Lit Assignment
Technology is very important in the advancement of our society. This is possible because of the scientists who are continuously researching for ways to help people in various conditions. Nowadays, different kinds of diseases are easily diagnosed because of technology. There are a lot of equipment that can be used to see what is happening in the internal body systems.Use of these equipment help diagnose diseases but sometimes not patient-friendly or imparts discomfort to patients.
This article is about a new non-invasive alternative to colonoscopies. It was was published in ScienceDaily on March 15, 2017.
The usual colonoscopy procedure uses a flexible tube called colonoscope that is inserted into the rectum guided by a doctor through the colon. The camera at the end of the colonoscope allows for the visualization of the inner lining of the large intestine. It helps find ulcers, colon polyps, tumors, and areas of inflammation or bleeding. Patients are sedated and need to have a day off from their usual activities.
Colonoscopy procedures are safe and proven effective to screen for colon cancer. Although there are some issues about this procedure which include tolerability of some patients and may be at higher risk for sedation.
To solve this issue, a new video capsule is being introduced. Loyola Medicine’s digestive health program is the first in the Chicago area to offer this latest alternative to colonoscopy. This system helps identify growths like polyps. The procedure is as easy as swallowing a pill. The patient ingests the PillCam™ Colon 2 capsule containing two miniature cameras on either end. As the capsule travels through the digestive tract, it captures images and wirelessly transmits them to a recorder the patient wears on a belt.
"The video capsule system is the only alternative screening method for colon cancer that allows for direct visualization of colon polyps," said Mukund Venu, MD, director of clinical operations and director of diagnostic testing for Loyola Medicine's division of gastroenterology who has training in capsule endoscopy and performs the test. "Early detection has been proven to save lives, and the video capsule system offers a convenient screening test for people who are unable to have a complete colonoscopy."
Although this procedure is not recommended for everyone, this is beneficial to those patients who cannot undergo the regular colonoscopy because of their abnormalities in the colon system. With this new system, the patient swallows the capsule with water. After the non-reusable capsule is excreted, it's flushed down the toilet. The patient can immediately return to work after said procedure because it is painless and requires no anesthesia.
The article explained properly the comparison between the two technologies: the usual colonoscopy procedure and taking the video capsule method. Pros and cons of using these two procedures were also mentioned. It clearly shows that there was no bias in this article. As related to this article published by Science Daily, another article in Vancouver Sun which says that the same type of capsule was tested by Dr. Greg Monkewich, a Burnaby gastrointestinal specialist who is one of a few BC doctors offering the option. Dr. Monkevich said that he has also tested it to himself and the result was satisfying.
The technology of PillCam capsules won’t replace colonoscopies but it is a good and promising alternative for patients who find the conventional procedure uncomfortable or who have a fear of it.
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