Virtual colonoscopy of the intestine: reviews and procedure description

Each person has these or other ailments. To identify various diseases, it is necessary to carry out a survey on time. This will help start treatment as early as possible and avoid possible complications. In this article we will discuss what is a virtual colonoscopy. You will learn how this procedure is conducted and what are the reviews about it.

Virtual Colonoscopy

To begin with it is necessary to tell, what for the given inspection do. Very often a person does not suspect that there is one or another ailment in his or her body. Bowel diseases are very frequent. It is almost impossible to diagnose them independently. You can only suspect this or that disease.

Virtual colonoscopy allows to reveal various pathologies of the inner shell of the large intestine. The procedure is completely painless and not dangerous. It is worth recalling that this manipulation is very different from the usual colonoscopy. It has a lot of pluses. That is why the virtual colonoscopy of the bowel testimonials is only positive. If you are assigned this examination, then it is worth familiarizing yourself with the method of diagnosis.

Description of the procedure

Before you do a virtual colonoscopy, you need to properly prepare. It is worth noting that there are two ways of this survey. One of them is carried out with the help of magnetic resonance imaging. A virtual (CT) colonoscopy can also be performed using computed tomography. Diagnosis is carried out in several stages. Let's consider each of them in detail.

The first step: dieting

Virtual colonoscopy requires the absence of solid particles in the intestine. That's why it's worth starting a certain diet for three days. Give up bread and other baking. Also, do not eat foods made from durum wheat.

In addition, it is necessary to limit the consumption of raw vegetables. Tomatoes, peppers and other foods can leave undigested skins in the intestines. As a result, diagnosis will be difficult. It is also possible to get an incorrect diagnosis.

The second step: purification of the intestine

Virtual colonoscopy in Moscow and other cities of the Russian Federation is carried out only after a thorough cleansing of the intestine. The doctor will offer you several ways of this procedure.

You can use a cleansing enema the day before the examination and in the morning before the diagnosis. Also there is an option of using laxatives. In this case, you need to drink the drug as required by the instruction.

The third step: on the day of the procedure

On the day you are assigned a diagnosis, you should not eat. If you really want to eat, you can drink vegetable or chicken (light) broth. Also, before manipulation, you should drink at least half a liter of water. It is advisable to refrain from drinking juices and give preference to ordinary drinking water.

Step four: during the manipulation

This examination is most often carried out in the X-ray room or another room in which the tomograph is located. The patient is asked to change before the procedure. Most often for diagnostics use a disposable shirt without fasteners.

Also it is necessary to remove all ornaments and artificial limbs. Otherwise, the operation of the device will be incorrect. Warn the doctor that you have prostheses (if any).

The patient is placed on a solid table in the upward facing position. The doctor carefully inserts a catheter with a tip into the anus. After this, the intestine is expanded with gas (in case of using a computer tomography). If a magnetic resonance apparatus is used, a contrast agent is introduced into the large intestine to improve the diagnosis.

When the examined organ is expanded to the required size, a picture is taken. Sometimes you need to hold your breath for a few seconds. Then the person is asked to turn first to one, then to the other side. In the end, the patient must lie on his stomach. In this position, the last picture is taken. After that, the person is allowed to get up and dress in his underwear.

Step Five: the result

After receiving a few pictures, the doctor creates a projection of the intestine on the monitor. Next, a thorough diagnosis of the walls. After that, the result is summed up, and a conclusion is drawn. You can get the result within a few hours after the procedure. Remember that the diagnosis should be made by a specialist. That is why with the result of the survey it is worth to visit a doctor-proctologist or surgeon.

Virtual Colonoscopy of the Intestine: Feedback

As already mentioned above, this manipulation of reviews has only positive. Many patients compare the described diagnosis with conventional colonoscopy. At the same time, the majority of the respondents are in favor of conducting a virtual survey. So, what is so good about this procedure?

Time of examination. Virtual colonoscopy reviews are positive because of the fairly rapid holding. When compared with the usual procedure, it requires several times less diagnostic minutes. The duration of the examination usually does not exceed a quarter of an hour. In some cases, even less time is required.

Painless. Conventional colonoscopy is quite unpleasant and in some cases even painful manipulation. This can not be said about a virtual survey. Due to the fact that there is no need to introduce a probe with a chamber deep into the intestine, unpleasant feelings are significantly reduced. A person during manipulation can feel only a slight raspiranie in the abdominal cavity. This is caused by the action of gas on the walls of the organ.

The exact result. Virtual colonoscopy gives accurate and fast results. Due to the fact that the images are taken in several projections, each curl of the intestine can be examined. These advantages are not present in the usual procedure. In some cases, the camera and probe can not enter the convoluted intestine. This does not allow to examine the organ completely.

Price. Virtual colonoscopy practically does not differ in cost from usual diagnostics. Allowing for a more thorough and comfortable examination, it costs about as much as conventional manipulation.

It is worth recalling that in all private clinics prices may differ slightly from each other. It all depends on the method of research and qualification of a specialist.

Lack of virtual colonoscopy

Despite all the listed advantages, this diagnosis has one big drawback. If during a routine colonoscopy the doctor can quickly and practically painlessly remove small polyps and neoplasms, and also take material for a biopsy, then during virtual research this is impossible. During the procedure, you can only establish the presence or absence of pathology. Treatment is carried out later and completely different methods.

Summarizing

If you are assigned a virtual colonoscopy, do not miss the opportunity to conduct this examination. By results of research it is possible to tell much about a condition of the vital organ of a human body.