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Town & Country Hospital provides a state-of-the
art Endoscopy Center for the diagnosis and treatment of complications
of the digestive tract. Specialists in gastroenterology offer
care for patients suffering from conditions including:
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Crohn’s Disease
• Celiac Disease (malabsorption)
• Intestinal disorders
• Chronic heartburn (gastrointestinal reflux disease)
M2A®
Capsule Endoscope
Town & Country Hospital
offer the Endo capsule medical technology that allows physicians
to see what no one has ever been able to fully capture before
– the entire 21 feet of the human small intestine. The
M2A® Capsule Endoscope, or camera in a pill, was pioneered
by Given Imaging Corporation to give patients a non-invasive
option for diagnosis of certain small intestine disorders.
Approximately 70 million
Americans currently suffer from gastrointestinal troubles,
including disorders such as obscure bleeding, Crohn’s
Disease, malabsorption or Celiac Disease, and intestinal tumors.
However, many of these conditions go undiagnosed, or are treated
with trial and error, due to the limited diagnostic options
available for this region of the body. Given Imaging’s
M2A Capsule Endoscope significantly improves the chances of
accurate diagnosis for many previously undiagnosed small intestine
disorders.
“We are extremely excited
to offer a technology that will improve our ability to diagnose
disorders of the small intestine,” said Dr. Israel Crespo
a Gastroenterologist at Town & Country Hospital. “In
addition, the Given Imaging technology is much more convenient
for our patients, who now can avoid the unpleasant preparation,
extended visits and anesthesia associated with other diagnostic
procedures.”
The capsule, which is taken
with a sip of water, just like a vitamin, passes naturally
through the digestive tract, recording video images that are
transmitted to and then stored on a recorder belt worn throughout
the day. Eight hours after swallowing the capsule, the patient
returns the belt to the physician’s office. The physician
then views the images using the Given Imaging workstation
and RAPID software, and later reports his or her findings
back to the patient. The system received clearance from the
FDA in August 2001.
For a referral to a Gastroenterologist
that performs the M2A® Capsule Endoscope, please contact
1(866) 362-7335.
BravoTM
pH monitoring System
Do you have a great deal
of indigestion or a burning sensation in the center of your
chest? Do you regularly get sour or bitter-tasting fluids
in your throat or mouth? Do you need help sitting up when
you’re lying down, or avoid bending over to prevent
acid from backing up into your throat?
If you can answer “
yes to any of these questions, you might have chronic heartburn
or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Now there is a
non-invasive test for heartburn – it’s called
bravo. The results from this quick and easy diagnostic test
will tell your doctor what is causing your symptoms and what
is the best treatment to prescribe for you.
What is Heartburn?
Heartburn occurs when contents from the stomach flow back
up into the esophagus. Heartburn usually begins as a burning
feeling in the center of your chest. Often, there is a sensation
of food or fluid coming back into your throat and mouth that
typically tastes sour or bitter. The burning sensation can
last for hours and is often worse after eating. Many people
occasionally experience heartburn. But, heartburn can be a
symptom of a more serious condition, GERD.
What is GERD?
Frequent or chronic heartburn (more than twice per week) may
be associated with a more serious problem known as GERD. The
heartburn may be so severe that it interferes with your daily
routine. Damage caused y GERD can lead to more serious medical
problems such as difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia), narrowing
of the esophagus (strictures) or Barrett’s esophagus.
How are Heartburn
and GERD Diagnosed?
The traditional way to measure pH levels in the esophagus
is to place a catheter, which is connect to a monitoring device
on the patient’s belt, down the nose and into the esophagus.
Many patients complain of nasal discomfort and are embarrassed
to go out with the catheter in their nose. Now there is a
more patient-friend pH test for diagnosing heartburn and GERD
– it’s called Bravo TM . This test allows your
doctor to evaluate your heartburn symptoms to determine the
frequency and amount of acid refluxing into your esophagus.
Bravo is the world’s
first catheter-free pH monitoring system that allows patients
to maintain their regular diet and activities without the
embarrassment and discomfort associated with traditional pH
catheter systems.
How the Bravo
System Works
The test involves a miniature pH capsule, approximately the
size of a gelcap that is attached to your esophagus. Throughout
the test period, the Bravo capsule measure the pH in the esophagus
and transmits this information to a pager-sized receiver worn
on your belt or waistband just like a pager or mobile phone.
You will be give a diary to write down the times when you
have reflux symptoms (for example, coughing, heartburn, regurgitation),
when eating or when lying down.
How the Bravo Capsule
is Attached
| Positioning the capsule in the esophagus |
Recording pH and transmitting
data to receiver |
After the test is completed,
you return the diary and the Bravo Receiver to your doctor
and the information is uploaded to a computer, which provides
a comprehensive report so the physician can diagnose your
condition.
For a referral to a Gastroenterologist
that performs the BravoTM pH monitoring at Town & Country,
please call toll-free 1(866) 362-7335.
Frequently Asked
Questions?
What are the benefits
of the Bravo System?
The Bravo pH system provides comfort and convenience. Data
is recorded when the capsule and receiver are within 3 feet
of each other. What this means is you can bathe and get a
restful night’s sleep because you can place the receiver
outside the shower or on your nightstand and the test will
not be interrupted.
How long does the Bravo
test take?
The capsule takes only moments to place in the esophagus.
Then, the Bravo test lasts either 24 or 48 hours, depending
on what your physician requests.
Will the Bravo test restrict my diet and activities?
The test is catheter-free and the receiver is small so you may
eat normally and go about your daily routine without any restrictions.
What happens when the
Bravo test is complete?
After the test period, you return the Bravo receiver to your
physician’s office. The test data is uploaded to a computer
and analyzed by your doctor. Your physician will inform you
of your results soon after the test.
What happens to the capsule
after the test?
Several days after the test, the capsule naturally falls off
the wall of the esophagus and passes through your digestive
tract and is eliminated from the body.
Can I have an MRI (Magnetic
Resonance Imaging) during the test?
Patients are restricted from undergoing an MRI study within
30 days of the Bravo procedure.
Will I feel the capsule
during the test?
Some patients say they have a vague sensation that “something”
is in their esophagus. Some patients say they feel the capsule
when they eat or when food passes the capsule. Should you
experience this, chewing food carefully and drinking liquids
may minimize this sensation.
Is Bravo for everyone?
Unfortunately, it is not for everyone. Patients with pacemakers,
implantable defibrillators or neurostimulators cannot use
Bravo. Patients with a history of bleeding diatheses, strictures,
severe esophagitis, varices and obstructions are not candidates
for Bravo.
After the test period, you
return the Bravo receiver to your physician’s office.
The test data is uploaded to a computer and analyzed by your
doctor. Your physician will inform you of your results soon
after the test.
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