The latest innovations in our gastroenterology department
(Photo above: lead consultant gastroenterologist Dr Sami Hoque)
We’ve been trialling two recent innovations in our gastroenterology department including an artificial intelligence-assisted colonoscopy and a colon capsule.
Since October 2021, our gastroenterology department at Whipps Cross has been trialling these two innovations which have allowed us to further improve the quality of the service we provide as well as giving patients an alternative to get checked for colon cancer and other conditions.
We spoke to Doctor Sami Hoque, lead consultant gastroenterologist at Whipps Cross Hospital, to find out more about it including the benefits these innovations have brought to the department and to patients.
An extra pair of eyes for endoscopists
The Artificial Intelligence-Assisted (AI) Colonoscopy for detection of colon polyps (as it’s officially known) is a new technology that helps endoscopists to improve the rate of polyp detection in the colon which is an important measure to prevent colorectal cancer.
Colon polyps are small growths that form on the lining of the colon. Most of them are not harmful and don’t usually turn into cancer. But if some types of polyps (called adenomas) are not removed, there's a chance they may eventually become cancerous, and this is where they new AI technology supports endoscopists when performing a colonoscopy.
“This new technology gives us an ‘extra pair of eyes’ because the human eyes can sometimes miss things as we do a lot of coloscopies, so with this, we have a backup”, said Dr Hoque.
The consultant said that we are currently one of the eight NHS national trials taking place across the country.
“This technology has changed the landscape for us as it gives us extra confidence and accuracy when detecting harmful polyps when doing a colonoscopy”, he added.
A new alternative for patients
Another recent innovation that our gastroenterology department has been trialling for a few months is the colon capsule - a miniature camera which patients can swallowed to get checked for cancer and other conditions.
The capsules are no bigger than a pill (photo below) and can provide a patient’s diagnosis, on average, in less than four hours, said Dr Hoque.
The minicamera can take 20 frames per second and gives endoscopists a very detailed picture of the colon while checking for signs of colon cancer or any other conditions.
“We are offering patients an alternative to traditional colonoscopy”, said the consultant.
“Doing a traditional colonoscopy requires time and preparation both for the doctor and the patient, but with this technology the process is much easier and quicker.”
“All that patients need to do is to swallow the pill and wait for it to come out of their system in a few hours, but they can go about their day as usual”, he added.
Once the camera is out of the patient’s body, the endoscopist can analyse in detail the patient’s digestive system.
Dr Hoque said that Whipps Cross is also part of the NHS national trial of this innovation, which means that the hospital is one of the 11th hospitals in the country currently trialling this technology.
The department currently has six colon cameras, which means that the patients opting for this alternative are also freeing space for people waiting to have a colonoscopy.
“Instead of waiting six weeks, with this new technology we have been able to reduce the waiting time considerably and we can also give patients an alternative which it’s also not invasive and it’s safe.
Dr Hoque added:
“These are the two innovations that we’ve started to recently trail at Whipps Cross and we are proud that our hospital was chosen to be part of the national trial for these innovations.”
“With these tools we are also improving patient care and helping to tackle our backlog.”
