A “colonoscopy” in a pill?
About a year ago or so I read about a new exam that was very neat. It was a small pill sized camera that you swallow and it takes rapid pictures of your intestines as it goes through. These pictures are being sent into a little device you where around your waist for a day.
The pictures are so fast that when combined they become an actual VIDEO of the intestines - a COLONSCOPY that can actually see your entire small intestine AND requires no evassive scopes.
Now although the FDA had approved this procedure to be marketed, insurance companies were not paying for it. Also, doctors were not using it on anyone that actually HAS a digestive problem (in fear that the pill would get stuck) - but at the same time that makes the exam a bit point-less…
Well, a recent article published announced that Israel’s Ministry of Health has just approved reimbursement for this procedure for those who have bleeding or are suspected of Crohn’s Disease.
This is definitely a step in the right direction!
Read the full article by clicking here…
NOTE: There is still NO reliable exam that can see the entire small intestine, EXCEPT for this pill so this could have a major influence on treating IBD.
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2 Responses to “A “colonoscopy” in a pill?”
1 Don 28 September 2006 @ 9:48 am
I can tell you first hand how good the camera pill is because I have had it done.
It is brilliant! You have to wear a monitor to pick up the pictures being taken and it takes about 8 hours to complete. It was so simple I actually went home for most of it (I live 20 mins from the hospital) and went back with the monitor later to be taken off.
I had had an endoscopy and colonoscopy before that didnt show much at all but then they saw something in the small bowel so they tried the pill, it was the only way the doctors could see I had Crohns after years of tests and I was finally diagnosed with Crohns 7 months ago
I think the pill should be used instead of an endoscopy or colonoscopy in the first instance because it is so simple and pretty pain free and will show everything there is to see, BUT it cant take a biopsy so if the doctors want confirmation and need a biopsy you will need to have a colonoscopy or endoscopy done so its not the end of endoscopy or colonoscopy yet!
2 Pharmacy Times 29 March 2007 @ 6:49 pm
The FDA is corrupt. Look at all the money they spend on campaigns to rush things through. They own the presidency and most of the congress and senate WBR LeoP
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