In recent times, ultrasound endoscopy has played a major role in both the diagnosis and treatment of digestive pathologies. Therefore, following these innovations, hPrivate University Hospital of Cordoban by your service Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Acquired this modern equipment. This makes it possible to provide the patient with a minimally invasive technique that merges endoscopy and ultrasound into a single procedure with advanced technology and maximum quality images. This allows access to a digestive wound in real time and precisely.
The new tool allows professionals to:
- Taking samples of wounds (biopsy) can be used for various medical purposes as well.
- Diagnose early malignant lesions of the digestive tract.
- Puncture of lesions to obtain material for histopathological study, for example: solid or cystic lesions of the pancreas.
- The palliative treatment approach to chronic pain.
- Diagnosis of subepithelial lesions of the gastrointestinal tract.
The echoendoscope is a state-of-the-art instrument for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive injuries.
This imaging technique, also called endoscopic ultrasonography, combines endoscopy and ultrasound to obtain highly accurate images of the wall of the digestive tract. The echoendoscope’s transducers, which are located at the tip, allow visualization of the layers of the wall of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum and rectum; As well as the organs that surround them such as the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile duct, vessels, ganglia, etc. If this technique is combined with Doppler ultrasound, the blood vessels near these structures can also be evaluated.
Echoendoscope transducer.
benefits of using it
Dr Yanina Carlino, member of the Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Service at the Private University Hospital of Cordoba and a doctor specializing in this practice, highlights that ultrasound endoscopy provides more information than other imaging tests. This allows them to reach the most accurate diagnosis of pathologies of the digestive system. The above studies facilitate the evaluation of benign and malignant lesions of the gastrointestinal wall (eg submucosal lesions), the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors and the study of diseases of the bile duct and gallbladder. In turn, this allows biopsy to be taken for histological diagnosis via guided fine-needle puncture. This method presents a lower risk of complications than traditional puncture through the skin or percutaneous.
The main applications of the technique are:
- Tumor staging of the esophagus-gastro-duodenal wall.
- Evaluation of patients with complicated Barrett’s esophagus.
- Evaluation of gastrointestinal lymphoma.
- Evaluation of gastrointestinal submucosal lesions, eg: GIST, leiomyoma, etc.
- Evaluation of thickened gastric folds.
- Evaluation of benign and malignant malformations of the bile duct and gallbladder.
- Evaluation of the bile duct and gallbladder (stones, microlithiasis or biliary sludge).
- Biliary directed intervention (Rendez Vaus) in patients with biliary tumors or papilla anomalies.
- Pancreatic tumor staging and puncture biopsy.
- Diagnosis of cystic tumors of the pancreas.
- Diagnosis and staging of ampullary tumors.
- Early diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.
- Evaluation of unexplained pancreatitis and recurrent pancreatitis.
- Evaluation of rectal and anal lesions: abscesses, fistulas.
- Evaluation and diagnosis of cancer of the rectum and anus.
- Pseudocyst or pancreatic collection, stent drainage of bile duct drainage.
- Treatment of gastric varices.
- Biliodigestive diversion (gastroenteroanastomosis with axios stent).
How is endoscopy done?
There are two types of ultrasound endoscopy: upper digestive tract and rectum. To perform an upper digestive tract ultrasound, the endoscope is inserted through the mouth and passed through the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (it should be noted that the instrument does not interfere with the patient’s ability to breathe). For a rectal ultrasound, the endoscope is inserted through the anus and the rectum is examined.
The procedure takes about 60 to 90 minutes, uses general anesthesia, oxygen, and monitors vital signs. This is an outpatient study, so the patient is discharged on the same day.
Doctor Carlino says that “being able to acquire this new device would be a huge benefit to patients, as they would have the possibility to obtain quality images and with them more accurate treatment and diagnosis of digestive diseases”.
With the goal of continuous improvement to provide the best healthcare to the community, Hospital Privado Universitario de Cordoba continues to innovate hand-in-hand with the most advanced technology and continuous training of its professionals.
About the Private University Hospital of Cordoban
Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba is a medical institution located in the heart of Argentina that provides excellent medicine to patients individually and through various social works in the country and several agreements with reputed international insurance companies. It is one of the leading referral centers across the country, covering all medical specialties. Various fields of complexity are in charge of outstanding professionals with unparalleled achievements in the internal areas of the country.
Its headquarters, located at AV Nacionales Unidas 346 in the Córdoba Capital, covering 30,000 m2, is composed of five fully renovated floors equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, spacious rooms with the largest comforts, operating rooms and state-of-the-art – art units.
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