Matt
Some of you may have already undergone a colonoscopy or gastroscopy. These medical examinations of the gastroenterological system are relatively invasive.
The first one is an examination of the colon, a part of the intestine, using an endoscope, a type of camera that allows illumination and visualization of inaccessible parts of our body.
This is a very unpleasant examination as it requires emptying the bowel beforehand using laxatives and being sedated, which is always anxiety-inducing. Anesthesia, no food… nothing very fun!
The second one follows the same principle but changes location! We are going to examine the stomach, but also the esophagus and the duodenum.
This may be necessary to assess the situation in case of pain in these areas, to do screening and possibly diagnose a disease (celiac disease, cancer…), to take a sample for biopsy, to remove a suspicious mass, and many other things.
Fortunately, a revolutionary device is being tested to replace these invasive examinations with a much less invasive technique.
This would work by using a pill containing a tiny chip or sensor.
Once swallowed, it would transmit information to the doctor wirelessly, throughout its journey in our digestive system.
Of course, this technique still sounds a bit like science fiction, but in reality, it is already in the experimental phase with some volunteer patients.
If the results are conclusive, this could truly be a medical revolution. We just need to be a little patient.
