Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
The most popular test for gastric abnormalities and diseases is gastroscopy. Any other methods are considered to be complementary testing only.
X-ray examination
The contrast test of the stomach consists in x-raying this organ after swallowing a substance impermeable to X-rays in the form of a barite paste. Today, the examination is rarely performed – it has been replaced by gastroscopy as being too inaccurate.
Purpose: This test records the shape of the stomach, its position in relation to other organs and its motor function. It helps to recognize ulcers, tumors and stomach wall stiffness.
Preparation: The examination is non-invasive, painless and short-lived. The stomach must be completely empty, therefore the patient should not eat anything from the previous evening until the surgery. During the examination, the patient drinks barite mash.
Contraindications: Pregnancy.
Prices: The test is reimbursed, but a referral from a surgical or gastroenterology clinic is required. In a private clinic, x-rays of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum costs about PLN 130 (the price includes the contrast).
gastroscopy
It is the most popular gastric examination as it assesses the changes taking place in it most accurately. They are performed using an apparatus called a gastroscope, which is a very soft and flexible tube with a diameter of 7-10 mm. At the end of the tube there is a microcamera transmitting the image to the computer monitor.
Purpose: The method allows for a thorough examination of the stomach, the elasticity of its walls and mucosa, as well as the assessment of ulcers, erosions, polyps, tumors and hernias, as well as any changes in the functioning of the stomach. It gives the possibility of extracting swallowed objects. During the procedure, specimens can be taken for histopathological examination, for the test for Helicobacter pylori bacteria. This procedure helps to stop bleeding from ulcers and erosions, and to remove polyps.
Preparation: Invasive examination. It takes about 15 minutes. Painkillers and sedatives are given depending on the patient’s sensitivity. Everyone is anesthetized at the back of the throat.
The stomach must be empty, therefore you should not eat or drink anything for at least 6 hours before the procedure. It is advisable not to smoke. No medications should be taken as this may make it difficult to assess the mucosa.
Before the procedure, dentures should be removed. Then he is placed on the couch on the left side, and the head is bent to the chest so that the saliva escapes through the corner of the mouth. The procedure may cause vomiting and breathlessness. After the examination, one cannot eat or drink anything for an hour as the throat is still anesthetized.
Contraindications: Fresh myocardial infarction, acute coronary insufficiency, respiratory and circulatory failure, aortic aneurysm. A serious problem is the lack of cooperation between the patient and the doctor. There are no restrictions on repeating the treatment.
Prices: The examination is reimbursed, a referral from a surgical or gastrological clinic is required. When it is performed as part of one-day surgery, a referral is required to a hospital that has a contract with the National Health Fund.
Breathing tests
This test uses urea which is then detected in the exhaled air. This method is very popular among many doctors in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori. The sensitivity and specificity of the test reaches almost 100%.
Objective: To detect Helicobacter pylori.
Preparation: Antibiotics must not be taken 4 weeks before the examination, and proton pump inhibitors must not be taken 2 weeks before the examination. One hour earlier, the patient should not take any food or drink.
Then, the subject eats a meal containing urea labeled with carbon isotope. If there is bacteria in the stomach, urea is broken down by a chemical reaction stimulated by urease, an enzyme produced by Helicobacter pylori. The final products of this reaction are water and carbon dioxide. The latter is exhaled and the captured air samples are analyzed to determine the amount of carbon isotope.
Contraindications: None. Non-invasive method. The procedure does not burden the patient. It can be performed in children and pregnant women.
Prices: The examination is not performed in every clinic. A referral from a specialist doctor is necessary.
Serological research
These tests involve the determination of serum IgG antibodies. This method is ineffective. A positive result after treatment does not necessarily mean that the therapy is ineffective. Regardless of the result of treatment, antibodies may remain in the body for several years.
Aim: To detect antibodies to Helicobacter pylori.
Preparation: There are no special recommendations.
Contraindications: None.
Prices: The examination is reimbursed in the case of referral from a primary care physician or specialist. There are also qualitative quick screening tests, available at pharmacies, but not very reliable.
General examination and fecal occult blood test
The test allows for microscopic, chemical and bacteriological evaluation of the collected fecal samples. It even determines trace amounts of blood. However, this is an old type of procedure that requires the patient to follow a diet. Therefore, tests based on the detection of human hemoglobin are already available, which do not require a three-day diet.
Purpose: Detecting blood in your stools may indicate a number of serious medical conditions – ulcers, polyps, and tumors.
Preparation: You must not eat any meat, green vegetables or horseradish for at least 3 days before the treatment. In addition, during this time, the patient should not take oral medications, such as aspirin, vitamin C, iron and other preparations containing these ingredients. Before the test, you should have a special container in which the stool sample should be transported to the laboratory.
The faeces for testing are taken from the faecal mass given as a result of defecation without the use of laxatives. It is put into a fecal container, previously thoroughly washed with water and detergent, thoroughly rinsed and dried. You should not submit feces from the toilet bowl for examination. The collected stool is then sent to the laboratory. Stool samples for the so-called Occult blood is tested for three consecutive bowel movements, but two samples are taken from each of them. In the laboratory, stool samples are subjected to specific analytical procedures. The result is obtained within approx. 5 days.
Contraindications: None, regardless of age. The test does not cause any complications and can be repeated many times.
Prices: The examination is reimbursed, a referral from the attending physician is required. In a private clinic, a occult blood test costs about PLN 20. The test based on the detection of human hemoglobin also costs about PLN 20.
Text: Marta Lenkiewicz
Consultation: Dr. Piotr Jakub Pniewski, Damian Medical Center, Warsaw
Source: Let’s live longer