Best Doctors in India for Virtual Colonoscopy
Best Hospitals in India for Virtual Colonoscopy
- City: Bengaluru, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta, Bengaluru was established in 2006.
- The hospital is a 276 bedded multi-specialty tertiary care facility.
- The hospital specializes in cutting-edge medical technology and dedicated patient care services.
- The hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies like trans-radial angioplasty, trans-abdominal cardiac surgery, and computerized TKR navigation surgery.
- The hospital provides specialty medical services in cardiology, cardiac surgery, orthopedics, neurology, neuro-surgery, GI, and Minimal Access Surgery (MAS).
- City: Chennai, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Fortis Malar was established in 1992 and was formerly known as Malar Hospital.
- The hospital specializes in cutting-edge medical technology and dedicated patient care services.
- The hospital is multi-specialty, tertiary care facility with 180 beds.
- The hospital offers comprehensive medical care in specialties such as cardiology, cardio-thoracic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, nephrology, gynecology, gastroenterology, urology, pediatrics, and diabetes.
- City: New Delhi, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Established in 1996, Pushpawati Singhania Research Institute is one of the top hospitals in the NCR region, as well as one of the top facilities in India for gastroenterology. The hospital is one of South Asia’s first institutes in medical and surgical treatment for diseases related to digestion.
- The hospital is equipped with state-of-the art facilities coupled with the latest equipment as well as renowned consultants from various parts of India as well as other parts of the world.
- City: New Delhi, India
Hospital Highlights:
- State-of-the-art technology and devoted healthcare professionals have been brought together under one roof at Venkateshwar Hospital to provide genuine medical care. The hospital’s professionals work together as a team to deliver the best possible treatment to their patients, using the most sophisticated equipment and information technology.
- Venkateshwar Hospital’s mission is to attain global excellence in healthcare by employing evidence-based, ethical clinical practices and cutting-edge technology by a team of highly skilled experts.
- City: New Delhi, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi is known to provide the latest medical procedures with the latest technology in all of its units.
- The hospital has a team of reputed doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals that ensure that patients receive quality care at affordable costs.
- Staffed with a team of highly qualified doctors, dedicated nurses, and paramedical and non-medical staff, the hospital aims to lead in healthcare delivery, medical education, training, and research.
- As per the vision of the founder, the hospital also provides free treatment to the economically weaker sections of society.
- Sir Ganga Ram Hospital also provides training to young doctors under the Diplomate in National Board(DNB) program. The DNB program at the hospital was started in 1984 and it is known for currently running the maximum number of DNB specialties in the country. It also has the distinction of having the first bone bank in India.
- City: Kerala, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Established in 2019, Apollo Adlux Hospital is the first Apollo Hospital in Kerala and the 73rd hospital owned by Apollo Group in India. With the state’s most advanced, comprehensive healthcare infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies, Apollo Adlux Hospital stands as an example of medical excellence in Kerala.
- With over 34 multi-specialty departments, the hospital believes in providing the best quality treatment to its patients at affordable rates, ensuring comfort at their difficult times.
- The 300-bed hospital is managed by a team of highly qualified and experienced experts who delivers exceptional hospitality to their patients and treats them with great compassion.
- With its affiliation with the Apollo Hospitals Group, the hospital aims in providing patients with top-notch healthcare services while also serving communities in Kerala.
- The hospital has good railway and road connections, and is conveniently close to Cochin International Airport.
- City: Gurugram, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Situated near DLF Cyber City, Gurugram, Narayana Superspecialty Hospital is one of the top medical facilities in the Delhi NCR region, catering to the needs of the people. Known for its commitment to quality medical care and patient service, the hospital is a state-of-the-art facility with planned and well-equipped sections, which includes a spacious OPD area as well as comfortable patient rooms.
- It is the closest super-specialty hospital from Indira Gandhi International Airport towards Gurugram, and also the nearest super specialty hospital from DLF Cyber City. It is also close to major residential areas in Gurugram.
- It is part of the renowned Narayana Health Group. Established in 2000, by Dr. Devi Shetty, a renowned cardiac surgeon, it has grown to be one fo India’s leading healthcare groups.
- City: Noida, India
Hospital Highlights:
- Fortis Hospital, Noida, stands as one of the oldest and most trusted healthcare institutions in the region, setting a benchmark for comprehensive medical care.
- As the second mega hub hospital in the Fortis Healthcare Group, Fortis Hospital, Noida, upholds a legacy of trust among more than 1.2 million patients. By integrating top-tier professionals with cutting-edge technology, the hospital delivers superior treatment across various medical disciplines.
- Specializing in advanced Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Kidney and Liver Transplant Programmes, Fortis Hospital, Noida has successfully performed over 1,500 transplants, solidifying its reputation as a leader in specialized medical interventions.
Virtual Colonoscopy
Virtual Colonoscopy also termed as CT colonography, is a procedure which is done to look for small polyps or other growths inside the colon. Polyps that develop on the inside lining of the colon can lead to colon cancer.
Generally, it is advised that people of both genders begin screening for colon cancer from the age of 50. You might be at risk of colon cancer if you have a family history of colon cancer.
Virtual colonoscopy differs from regular colonoscopy in various ways. In a regular colonoscopy, a long and flexible narrow tube is used, which is equipped with a tiny camera and a light on one end. On the other hand, virtual colonoscopy is an X-ray test, which requires lesser time, and doesn’t require your doctor to insert a scope into your colon. However, it is noteworthy that virtual colonoscopy might not be as effective as colonoscopy in finding certain polyps. In most cases, your insurance might not cover it as well.
Purpose
Virtual colonoscopy is preferred to find colon cancer at an early stage when it can be treated more easily. Virtual colonoscopy has a few benefits as compared to regular colonoscopy:
- It is less uncomfortable and invasive. It does not need any pain medicine or anesthesia in most cases.
- The time required is much lesser.
- It might be considered for people who cannot undergo a regular colonoscopy. In some cases, it may be used for people who have problems such as bleeding, swelling or breathing problems.
- It might show areas of the large intestine that regular colonoscopy is unable to reach. This might be the case if part of your intestine is narrowed or blocked.
- It also poses less risk of harming the large intestine.
Preparation
Let your healthcare provider know about any medications that you might be taking. You will also need to have a bowel prep before the procedure. A bowel prep helps you empty the colon so that the CT images are going to be clear. Here is how the bowel prep is generally done:
- Your healthcare provider will most likely ask you to limit your diet to clear liquids for a few days before the procedure. This can include water, clear broth, or an electrolyte solution.
- The day before your procedure, you will receive a strong laxative in pill or liquid form. This will be helping help you empty your colon. You will likely have multiple loose or liquid bowel movements in the next hours.
- Just before the procedure is performed you may also receive a type of liquid to drink, which is termed as contrast media. This can help the inside of your colon to clearly show up for the X-rays.
Procedure
The procedure is performed at an outpatient center or at a hospital. Anesthesia is not required. It is performed by a specially trained X-ray technician.
For the procedure, first you lie on the table, while the technician will insert a thin tube through your anus and into the rectum. The tube then inflates your large intestine with air for a better view.
Next, the table slides into a tunnel-shaped device where the technician takes the X-ray images. You might be asked to hold your breath multiple times throughout the procedure. You will need to turn over on your side or stomach so that he/she can take different images of the large intestine.
The procedure generally takes around 10 to 15 minutes.
After the procedure
After the procedure, for around one hour, you might feel cramping or bloating. You will likely be able to resume your daily routine right after the test. You can also return to a normal diet.
Generally, after the test, a radiologist looks at the images to see if he/she can find any problems. Then a report is sent to your doctor.
Risks
Like most procedures, virtual colonoscopy comes with some risks and possible complications. These can include the following:
- A small, short tube is placed into the anus to pump air into your colon. This inflates your colon so that polyps or other growths can be seen more easily. Though pumping air into the colon carries a very small risk, in rare cases it may cause a tear (rupture). The risk is considered to be less than with regular colonoscopy.
- Your doctor or technician can’t remove polyps or other growths with a virtual colonoscopy. If polyps or any other growths are found, you will be needing a regular colonoscopy.
- This procedure can miss some polyps if they are smaller than 10 mm. though some of these might be seen with a regular colonoscopy.
- Unlike most other screening tests, this test uses X-rays for creating pictures of your colon and your rectum. Though the amount of radiation is small, it can raise your risk of cancer slightly. This procedure therefore can be dangerous for pregnant women.
Depending on your health conditions, sometimes you might have other risks. Therefore it is best to discuss with your health professional about all risks and possible complications before you undergo the test.