The Unit

The Endoscopy Unit at Centro Médico Teknon features a spacious waiting room and three procedure rooms with five recovery rooms, operating from 8 am to 8 pm daily, ensuring all cases are attended to in a timely manner while maintaining optimal patient comfort and safety.

All tests can be performed under sedation, controlled by an anaesthetist, to facilitate tolerance and maximise safety during examinations.

By using the most advanced endoscopic and therapeutic equipment, we are able to record and digitise endoscopic images, which are then printed and included with the examination report when the patient leaves the Unit.

In addition to diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, the Endoscopy Unit carries out:

Oesophageal and anorectal manometry

What is manometry?

Manometry is a diagnostic procedure to assess oesophageal motility and the action of the sphincters at the beginning (upper oesophageal sphincter) and end of the oesophagus (lower oesophageal sphincter). It is also used to locate the lower oesophageal sphincter for pH monitoring.

What preparation is required?

  • Fast for 12 hours before the examination
  • Bring the results of any previous digestive tests (esophagogastroduodenoscopy transit, endoscopy)
  • Discontinue all non-essential medication 48 hours prior to treatment
  • Do not smoke for 12 hours prior to the procedure
  • Discontinue treatment with proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, etc.) 15 days before the test. If symptoms are very bothersome, these can be replaced with ranitidine 150 mg every 12 hours, to be discontinued 48 hours before the test.

How is a manometry performed?

The patient lies on a stretcher and a very thin tube is inserted through the nose and down into the stomach. This procedure takes between 15 and 30 minutes, during which it records the movement of the entire oesophagus through small movements of the probe while having the patient swallow.

Oesophageal pH monitoring

What is pH monitoring?

pH monitoring is a test that measures the amount of acid in the oesophagus over a 24-hour period and determines whether it is normal or excessive, i.e. excessive or pathological gastroesophageal reflux.

What preparation is required?

  • Fast for 12 hours before the examination
  • Bring the results of any previous digestive tests (esophagogastroduodenoscopy transit, endoscopy)
  • Discontinue all non-essential medication 48 hours prior to treatment
  • Do not smoke for 12 hours prior to the procedure
  • Discontinue treatment with proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, etc.) 15 days before the test. If symptoms are very bothersome, these can be replaced with ranitidine 150 mg every 12 hours, to be discontinued 48 hours before the test.

How is pH monitoring performed?

A very thin probe is inserted through the nose, leaving it 5 cm from the lower oesophageal sphincter. This probe is connected to a pH recording device, which is hung around the waist and must be worn for 24 hours. During this period, the patient leaves the centre and carries out normal activities (eating, sleeping, working, etc.). The patient then records the exact times of meals, bedtimes, symptoms of heartburn, coughing, etc., on a sheet of paper. The probe will then be removed the following day (24 hours after it was placed) and the patient will submit the sheet with the additional information.

The doctor who conducted the pH monitoring will then study the information obtained and issue a report that the patient can collect within 48 hours of the test.

Digestive endoscopic ultrasound with 7.5 and 11.20 MHz miniprobes

  • Endoscopic ultrasound or endoscopic ultrasonography integrates ultrasound and endoscopic studies into a single examination.

    Types:

    • Mediastinal endoscopic ultrasound
    • Oesophageal endoscopic ultrasound
    • Gastric endoscopic ultrasound
    • Biliary endoscopic ultrasound
    • Pancreatic endoscopic ultrasound
    • Rectocolonic endoscopic ultrasound
    • Transendoscopic endoscopic ultrasound with miniprobes
    • Doppler endoscopic ultrasound

    Indications:

    • Tumour staging and study of submucosal lesions.
    • The miniprobes will be primarily used in digestive strictures; they can also be inserted through the papilla.
    • Doppler ultrasound is used to study portal hypertension.

    Interventional endoscopic ultrasound:

    • Histological diagnosis
    • Therapeutic intervention

    Prior coagulation tests are required. The tests must be performed on an empty stomach and under sedation.

    • Digestive Endoscopy Unit: Dr Espinós, Dr Turró
    • Endoscopy Section: Dr. Varas

Enteroscopy using capsule endoscopy

The endoscopic capsule is an imaging diagnostic technique used to study the small intestine.

Read more