Neurogastroenterology Diagnostics

News: The SmartPill the Wireless Motility Capsule Assessment of whole gut transit and contractility has arrived at the Princess Grace Hospital, minimising the need for invasive intubations or radiation.

What is Neurogastroenterology?

Many patients suffer with gut disorders related to feeding, sensitivity, pain and evacuation. These disorders are often associated with abnormalities in how the nervous systems in the brain and the gut communicate with each other. These abnormalities can result in patients developing troubling symptoms such as heartburn, swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), chest pain, stomach pain, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea and difficult defaecation. Patients with this type of disorder may also suffer from nutritional, respiratory and psychological problems. Neurogastroenterology is the medical discipline which specialises in diagnosing and treating abnormalities in gut neuromuscular function and brain-gut interactions.

Why is Neurogastroenterology important?

Despite Neurogastroenterological disorders being extremely common, effective diagnosis of the cause of these symptoms and subsequent treatment is often difficult as specialist knowledge and accurate diagnostic tests are not readily available within most hospital settings. The lack of a firm diagnosis and treatment strategy can be extremely worrying for patients and drastically reduce their quality of life.

In the past 5 years, there have been many technological advances in diagnostics for studying gut neuromuscular function and brain-gut interactions. Application of these new technologies to study complex neurogastroenterology patients is increasing the diagnostic yield of these investigations and helping clinicians to make informed decisions about tailored management strategies in often difficult to treat patients.

Where do Neurogastroenterology patients get referred from?

Patients are referred to the Neurogastroenterology service from many other medical disciplines. In addition to Gastroenterology (and GI surgeons), we receive referrals from medical and surgical specialties such as Cardiology, Respiratory, Rheumatology, Diabetology, Neurology and Urogynaecology as well as directly from General Practitioners. It should also be noted that some problems can also be manifest in childhood and thus paediatricians may also seek expert advice.

What services are available at the Neurogastroenterology Diagnostic Centre?

The Neurogastroenterology Diagnostic Centre at The Princess Grace Hospital is an exciting new service which will improve the access of patients with a broad range of feeding, sensitivity, pain and evacuation disorders to state of the art neurogastroenterological diagnostic techniques.

We will provide a combination of world class facilities with access to cutting edge technology and internationally renowned clinicians and scientists in our new centre. Our aim is to set a new standard for diagnostic excellence in patients with Neurogastroenterology disorders. Our services will be accessible to patients from across the UK and internationally. If you are interested in learning more about our service then please email the Neurogastroenterology department.

services include:

• High resolution oesophageal manometry and impedance
• Multi-channel ambulatory oesophageal pH and impedance
• Neurophysiology (sensory and motor studies of nerves that link the brain and the gut)
• Gastric emptying
• Small bowel manometry
• Anorectal physiology
• Endo-anal ultrasound
• Whole gut transit
• Evacuation proctography
• New! – SmartPill’s wireless motility capsule assessment of whole gut motility and transit.

New! - SmartPill

The SmartPill GI Monitoring System measures whole gut and regional gut (Stomach, Small bowel, and colon) transit times. Patients ingest the SmartPill capsule, the capsule then transmits the GI tract by peristalsis (muscle contractions), transmitting data continuously for five days or more to a Data Receiver worn by the patient. The SmartPill’s software is used to analyse data, indicating results such as:

• Gastric emptying time
• Small bowel transit time
• Colonic transit time
• Whole gut transit time
• Antral and duodenal pressures
• Motility indices

Results are used for the evaluation of gastroparesis, chronic constipation and suspected pan-intestinal disorders. The SmartPill Capsule is typically passed within a few days.

To make an appointment please contact your local GP or your current consultant clinician to make a referral on your behalf. Our services are accessible to patients from across the UK and internationally.

For more information on how to make an appointment please contact us on Tel: 0207 908 2185 or e-mail us at: diagnostics@alimentaryinnervations.co.uk