With its commitment of providing specialized care and treatment to its patients, the Asian Hospital and Medical Center has opened its gastrointestinal endoscopy unit. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are procedures that are essential in the management of gastrointestinal diseases and in gastrointestinal cancer screening.

Gastroscopy is the passage of a small flexible, lighted videoendoscope through the mouth into the stomach, which allows the physician to visually examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Colonoscopy also entails the insertion of an endoscope, but through the anal opening to allow visualization of the colon. Endoscopic procedures also provide for sampling of the lining of the gastrointestinal mucosa (biopsy) when needed and the removal of small tumors or polyps.

Other endoscopy services provided by the unit are endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography and stone extraction, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube insertion, as well as intragastric balloon insertion for weight control.

It has new equipment like the narrow band imaging, an optical filter technology that improves the visibility of capillaries, veins, and other subtle tissue structures, by optimizing the absorbance and scattering characteristics of light. Through this technology, the endoscopist can easily see the subtle changes in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract for the detection of early premalignant and malignant lesions. The endoscopic ultrasound, which combines endoscopy and ultrasound to obtain images and information about the digestive tract and the surrounding tissue and organs.

It also has an accreditation from the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology and Philippine Society of Digestive Endoscopy.

To know more about the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit, email info@asianhospital.com. It is located at the Second Level, Medical Office Building of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center.