What causes blood in stool. How to identify different types of bloody stools. What are the most effective natural remedies for blood in stool. When should you seek medical attention for bloody stools. How to prevent recurrence of blood in stool naturally.

Understanding Blood in Stool: Types and Causes

Blood in stool, medically known as hematochezia, is a symptom that can range from alarming to potentially life-threatening. The color and consistency of bloody stools can provide valuable clues about their origin within the digestive tract.

Types of Bloody Stools

• Bright red blood: Often indicates lower GI tract bleeding
• Maroon-colored stools: Suggests small intestine or right colon bleeding
• Black, tarry stools (melena): Typically indicates upper GI tract bleeding

The presence of blood in stool can be caused by various factors, ranging from benign conditions to serious diseases. Common causes include:

• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Diverticulosis
• Peptic ulcers
• Colorectal polyps or cancer
• Esophageal tears

Natural Remedies for Blood in Stool

While it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional for persistent or severe cases of blood in stool, several natural remedies may help alleviate symptoms and promote healing in milder cases.

Dietary Modifications

Adjusting your diet can play a significant role in managing blood in stool. Consider incorporating these changes:

• Increase fiber intake: Consume more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water to soften stools and prevent constipation
• Avoid irritants: Limit consumption of spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine
• Probiotic-rich foods: Include yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables in your diet

Herbal Remedies

Certain herbs have been traditionally used to support digestive health and reduce inflammation. Some potentially beneficial herbs include:

• Aloe vera: Known for its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties
• Slippery elm: May help coat and protect the digestive tract
• Chamomile: Can help reduce inflammation and promote relaxation
• Marshmallow root: May help soothe irritated mucous membranes

How can these herbs be consumed? Herbal teas, tinctures, or supplements are common methods. However, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any herbal regimen, especially if you’re taking medications.

Lifestyle Changes to Address Blood in Stool

Implementing certain lifestyle modifications can significantly impact digestive health and help prevent recurrence of blood in stool.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can exacerbate digestive issues. Consider incorporating stress-reduction techniques such as:

• Meditation
• Deep breathing exercises
• Yoga
• Regular physical activity

Proper Toilet Habits

Improving your bathroom routine can help prevent anal fissures and hemorrhoids, common causes of blood in stool.

• Avoid straining during bowel movements
• Don’t sit on the toilet for prolonged periods
• Use a squatting position or a toilet stool to promote easier bowel movements

When to Seek Medical Attention for Blood in Stool

While some cases of blood in stool can be managed with natural remedies, certain situations require immediate medical attention. Seek professional help if you experience:

• Large amounts of blood in your stool
• Persistent bleeding for more than a few days
• Black, tarry stools
• Severe abdominal pain or cramping
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever or chills accompanying bloody stools

Can blood in stool be a sign of cancer? In some cases, yes. While many causes of bloody stools are benign, persistent or unexplained cases should be evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out more serious conditions, including colorectal cancer.

Diagnostic Procedures for Blood in Stool

To determine the underlying cause of blood in stool, healthcare providers may recommend various diagnostic procedures.

Common Diagnostic Tests

• Stool tests: To check for occult (hidden) blood and infections
• Colonoscopy: Allows visual examination of the entire colon
• Sigmoidoscopy: Examines the lower part of the colon
• Upper endoscopy: Used to investigate upper GI tract bleeding
• Capsule endoscopy: Involves swallowing a small camera to view the small intestine

How are these tests performed? Each procedure has its own protocol, but generally, they involve either analyzing a stool sample or using a scope to visually examine the digestive tract. Your healthcare provider will explain the specific procedure and any necessary preparation steps.

Prevention Strategies for Blood in Stool

Preventing blood in stool often involves maintaining overall digestive health and addressing potential risk factors.

Dietary Prevention

• Maintain a high-fiber diet
• Stay adequately hydrated
• Limit processed foods and red meat consumption
• Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods like fatty fish, berries, and leafy greens

Lifestyle Prevention

• Exercise regularly to promote healthy digestion
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption
• Practice good anal hygiene

How effective are these prevention strategies? While they can significantly reduce the risk of many causes of blood in stool, it’s important to remember that some factors, such as genetic predisposition to certain conditions, may still play a role.

Complementary Therapies for Managing Blood in Stool

In addition to dietary and lifestyle changes, some complementary therapies may help manage symptoms and promote digestive health.

Acupuncture

This traditional Chinese medicine technique may help reduce inflammation and improve digestive function. Some studies suggest acupuncture can be beneficial for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease.

Probiotics

Probiotic supplements can help maintain a healthy gut microbiome, potentially reducing inflammation and supporting digestive health. How do probiotics work? They introduce beneficial bacteria into the gut, which can help balance the microbiome and support digestive processes.

Essential Oils

Certain essential oils, such as peppermint and ginger, may help soothe digestive discomfort. However, it’s crucial to use essential oils safely and under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.

Long-term Management of Digestive Health

Maintaining long-term digestive health is key to preventing recurrent episodes of blood in stool. This involves a comprehensive approach that includes regular check-ups, ongoing dietary management, and stress reduction techniques.

Regular Screenings

Depending on your age and risk factors, regular colonoscopies or other screening tests may be recommended to detect potential issues early.

Continuous Dietary Awareness

Maintaining a diet that supports digestive health is an ongoing process. It may involve keeping a food diary to identify trigger foods and working with a nutritionist to ensure a balanced, gut-friendly diet.

Stress Management as a Lifestyle

Incorporating stress-reduction techniques into your daily routine can have long-term benefits for digestive health. This might include regular meditation, yoga practice, or engaging in hobbies that promote relaxation.

How can you make these changes sustainable? The key is to start small and gradually incorporate new habits. Consistency is more important than perfection when it comes to long-term health management.

By understanding the causes of blood in stool, implementing natural remedies and prevention strategies, and knowing when to seek medical attention, you can effectively manage this concerning symptom and promote overall digestive health. Remember, while natural remedies can be helpful, they should not replace professional medical advice, especially in cases of persistent or severe symptoms.

Blood in Stool: Causes, Risk Factors, Colors, Treatments

Seeing bright red blood in stool is no laughing matter, especially when it’s your own poop.

Sometimes it can mean something serious is going on. Other times it may be minor and nothing to lose sleep over.

Either way, bloody stool can be quite alarming, and most experts agree it’s not something to just ignore.

Are you wondering, “Why is my poop black?” Many people don’t realize that black stool is also a form of bloody stool.

It’s true, blood in stool can result in black poop or bright red blood in poop. The color is actually very important to note, since different colors can point toward various internal sources of bleeding.

Bloody stools can also be a symptom of bleeding from the anus or rectal bleeding.

Of course, if you are having an excessive amount of blood loss, head straight for emergency medical care. If you are not having life-threatening blood loss or other symptoms in addition to blood in stool, then there are some natural ways to help yourself.

You want to first address root causes of your bloody stools. Read on to find out some of those possible causes, as well as natural remedies to address each one.

What Causes Blood in Stool?

Blood in stool is also referred to medically as hematochezia. This indicates there is bleeding somewhere in the digestive tract.

When you go to the bathroom, your feces should normally be a shade of brown, so a red or block color is considered abnormal.

Can bloody stools be harmless? What does blood in stool indicate?

Blood in stool is typically caused by bleeding coming from the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract. The blood can range from being bright red to black.

Small amounts of blood may not be something to necessarily worry much about, especially if it goes away quickly, however large amounts can be problematic.

The color of blood stool can actually be indicative of the location of internal bleeding, if that is the cause. Sometimes pooping blood is not from internal bleeding but actually a sign of bleeding in the rectum.

The presence of blood in stool can also range from being not noticeable to the naked eye to being alarmingly obvious.

One thing most experts tell you is that it’s never quite normal to see blood in your stool. It may not be an extremely serious situation, but it’s certainly not a good sign either.

Blood in the stool can come from any place in your digestive system, from your mouth all the way to your anus.

If the bleeding is coming from the upper digestive region (such as the esophagus or stomach), then this typically results in tarry or black poop, which is also medically referred to as melena. Maroon-colored stools or bright red blood often mean that the blood is coming from the small or large intestine, rectum or anus.

The blood in black or tarry stools usually comes from upper GI bleeding and can be caused by:

• Abnormal blood vessels
• A tear in the esophagus from violent vomiting (called Mallory-Weiss tears)
• Bleeding stomach ulcer
• Blood supply being cut off to part of the intestines
• Gastritis
• Trauma
• The presence of a foreign body
• Widened, overgrown veins in the esophagus and stomach

Wondering, “When should I be concerned about blood in my stool?”

Bright red blood in stools or maroon-colored stools usually equate to blood coming from the small intestine, large intestine, rectum or anus. These are symptoms to discuss with your doctor.

Underlying causes can include:

• Abnormal blood vessels
• Anal fissures (a small tear in the lining of the anus)
• Bowel ischemia
• Diverticulosis
• Foreign body or trauma
• Food poisoning
• Hemorrhoids (often the cause of bright red blood)
• Infection in the intestines
• Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
• Polyps in the colon or small intestine, or possibly colon cancer

As mentioned earlier, the color of the blood in your stools is highly important. How so?

A black, tarry stool (also called melena) typically indicates that the bleeding is coming from somewhere in the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, an ulcer may be a possible cause of tarry black stools.

On the other hand, if your stools appear bright red or maroon in color, then this often means there is an issue in the lower region of the digestive tract, such as the colon. Examples of possible lower GI problems that cause red or maroon stools include inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis and hemorrhoids.

Symptoms

The main sign or symptom of blood in stool is exactly that: You have bloody poop.

It’s important to note that when you see stool color changes, such as the addition of blood to your stool, this is actually a health concern that points toward underlying causes.

Sometimes someone may have blood in stool and not think much of it because that person doesn’t have any other symptoms. Other times, blood in stool can be accompanied by other concerning symptoms, such as:

• changes in bowel movements
• abdominal pain
• weakness
• breathing trouble
• vomiting
• heart palpitations
• bloody diarrhea
• weight loss

The types of symptoms in addition to blood in stool depend upon on the true root cause of the blood stools, how long the bleeding has taken place, as well as how much blood has been lost.

What about mucus in stool? It’s totally normal for your stool to contain a small amount of mucus.

However, if you start to see more mucus in your stool, your bowel movements change or you also see blood in stool, then you should find a doctor to discuss these issues with, since it could be something more serious.

Diagnosis

Significant stool changes typically warrant testing to get to the root cause of the changes. It’s also important to identify the source/location of bleeding.

To make a diagnosis, doctors may recommend some conventional tests for patients experiencing abnormal color stools. Tests that can help determine the cause of the problem can include:

• Angiography
• Barium studies
• Bleeding scan
• Blood work, including a complete blood count and more
• Colonoscopy
• Double balloon enteroscopy
• Stool test
• Testing to determine if an H. pylori infection is present
• Upper endoscopy or capsule endoscopy

Wondering how often polyps or cancer contribute to red stools? Polyps in the colon can start off as benign growths with no symptoms, but then they can get bigger, bleed or even become cancerous.

In the United States, colorectal cancer is currently the third most common cancer, and it can cause bleeding that usually goes unnoticed/isn’t visible to the naked eye. It’s important to keep up with doctors’ appointments if you’re at risk for colorectal cancer.

Treatment

The conventional medical treatment for bloody stools usually means treating the underlying cause. Managing discomfort can also be important.

Some recommendations that your doctor may have include:

• Eating a high-fiber diet
• Avoiding triggering foods
• Stopping use or high doses of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen
• Taking a sitz bath, which means sitting in warm water to relieve anal fissures and hemorrhoids
• Medications, such as antibiotics, to treat H. pylori
• Anti-inflammatory drugs to treat colitis
• Surgery to remove polyps or the parts of the rectum/colon that may be damaged
• Injecting chemicals into the site of bleeding using an electric current or laser, or applying a band or clip to close the bleeding vessel

There are also many natural ways to improve overall digestive health and maintain normal bowel movements.

Here’s what you can do if your blood in stool is caused by the following conditions:

1. Bleeding Stomach Ulcer

Bleeding stomach ulcers, or peptic ulcers, are painful sores that develop in the lining of your digestive system. Seeing blood when you vomit or the go to the bathroom is a common sign of a bleeding ulcer.

Thankfully, there are some things in your control that can help to naturally reduce ulcer symptoms and the likelihood of them bleeding. First, you’ll want to avoid certain foods known to make ulcers worse, including:

• spicy foods
• caffeine
• alcohol
• refined sugars
• any food allergens

Simultaneously, you’ll want to increase your intake of foods high in fiber, green leafy vegetables and fermented foods, such as coconut kefir and kimchi.

Research has also shown that consumption of cabbage juice can have an impressive healing effect on peptic ulcers. Try this GI Healing Juice Recipe, which includes cabbage juice, cucumber, aloe and ginger.

Another helpful idea when dealing with ulcers is to try eating several smaller meals throughout the day to reduce taxation of the digestive system.

2. Gastritis

Gastritis is digestive health issue resulting from damage and inflammation of the gastric mucosa (the lining of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract). Symptoms of gastritis can actually be similar to ulcer symptoms.

As usual, a healthy diet can really help improve gastritis. Overall, a healing gastritis diet consists mostly of vegetables, fruits, high-quality proteins and healthy fats.

Foods that are especially helpful are ones rich in probiotics, fiber, antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin B12, electrolytes and omega-3 fatty acids. Again, you want to avoid common triggers like spicy or very hot foods as well as naturally acidic foods like tomatoes and oranges.

Reducing stress is helpful to gastritis, and so is not eating too close to your bedtime. Try leaving yourself about three to four hours between eating dinner and going to sleep — this way you can fully digest.

Licorice root contains an anti-inflammatory compound called glycyrrhizic acid, which is known for its soothing effects on the stomach, making it very helpful to gastritis as well as ulcers. Not only is glycyrrhizic acid anti-inflammatory, but it also has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-tumor and antimicrobial abilities.

You can take licorice extract in supplement form, including chewables. Eating fennel may also be helpful at reducing symptoms.

3. Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis occurs when one or more small pouches (called diverticula) in the wall of the colon become inflamed.

Homemade bone broth and protein powder made from bone broth are two great ways to improve the integrity of your gut. Bone broth can help you easily digest essential nutrients that your body needs to heal and repair itself.

Getting enough high-fiber foods in the diet on a regular basis is also key to improving diverticulitis. A diet that is too low in overall dietary fiber appears to up the chances of having active diverticulitis flare-ups.

Avoiding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) is extremely important when you’re dealing with internal bleeding from diverticulitis or any other gastrointestinal tract bleeding for that matter. A study published in the Archives of Family Medicine finds that chronic use of NSAIDs is linked to the worst symptoms of diverticulitis, especially bleeding.

4. Inflammatory Bowel Disease/Crohn’s Disease

Abnormal and bloody stools are common symptoms of IBD.

How can you improve Crohn’s disease? You’ll definitely want to look into trying a Crohn’s disease diet.

When it comes to herbs that can help, slippery elm is a demulcent, which is a substance that protects irritated tissues and promotes their healing.

Slippery elm is an herb that contains mucilage, a substance that becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. This mucilage coats and soothes the various areas of the digestive tract, making it a top herbal remedy for calming inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s.

5. Ulcerative Colitis

There are many natural ways to help treat ulcerative colitis. One of the first steps in improving ulcerative colitis is evaluating and making necessary changes to your diet.

I highly recommend following a healing diet and avoiding common trigger foods like overly processed dairy products, refined sugars, caffeine, alcohol, carbonated beverages and spicy foods.

What kinds of foods do you want to get more of? Some of the best foods for fighting inflammation and calming ulcerative colitis symptoms are high in omega 3 fatty acids and probiotics.

Turmeric is another smart addition to the diet if you’re looking to calm ulcerative colitis. Turmeric is available in fresh root form, as a spice or as a supplement.

Studies have shown taking curcumin, an active component of turmeric, may even help some ulcerative colitis patients stay in remission once they improve their symptoms.

Reducing stress and increasing intentional moments of relaxation are other key aspects of what you can personally do to improve your ulcerative colitis symptoms. Stress is known to cause ulcerative colitis flare-ups so make sure you practice natural stress-reducing techniques on a regular basis.

Risks and Side Effects

Find a doctor right away or visit the emergency room if you also have any of these additional symptoms:

• You’ve passed large amounts of blood
• Rapid heart rate
• Lightheadedness
• Weakness

Remember that beets and tomatoes can also temporary cause a reddening of the stool, so don’t be alarmed if you see red stools shortly after enjoying some beets. Consuming black licorice or blueberries can temporarily cause changes in poop color. So can taking iron pills or bismuth medicines, such as Pepto Bismol.

See your doctor if you are experiencing bloody mucus in stool or mucus along with abdominal pain because these symptoms can point toward more serious problems, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and even cancer.

Always check with your doctor before starting any new supplements or making any changes to your diet if you are currently taking medication or have any ongoing health concerns. For example, licorice extract may not be right for you if you are struggling with high blood pressure.

Conclusion

• Unexplained bleeding in the body is never something to ignore. If you see blood in your stools, make sure you note the color and frequency because these are very helpful details for a health professional.
• Is bright red blood in stool serious? It can be, depending on what’s causing it. Possible conditions that can cause bloody stools include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease or possibly something serious, such as colon cancer.
• In order to treat this issue, some natural/conventional treatment options include eating an anti-inflammatory/high-fiber diet, avoiding trigger foods such as alcohol and spicy foods, eating smaller meals more frequently, drinking bone broth, stopping use of NSAIDs, and managing stress.

Home remedies for blood in stool|Ayurveda

Blood in Stool: Causes, Tips & Home Remedies

Blood in stool also known as rectal bleeding is one of the severe diseases any human can face. Rectal bleeding can occur due to various reasons including haemorrhoids, fissures, bowel diseases, ulcers etc. Stains of blood in the stools are the common symptoms of stool. Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool occurs due to bleeding in the digestive tract. Blood in the stool can be a sign of severe diseases including haemorrhoids, anaemia, low blood pressure etc. The problem of rectal bleeding can be cured with simple tips and home remedies that are stated below in the paragraphs.

What are the symptoms of rectal bleeding?

Symptoms associated with the rectal bleeding are stated below-

• Red or maroon stools
• Clearly visible red blood in the stool
• Visibility of red blood while cleaning the hips
• The stain of blood in garments
• Inflammation

What causes blood in stool?

The major causes of blood in stool are mentioned below-

• Haemorrhoids (Piles)
• Anal fissures
• Bowel diseases
• Ulcer
• Colorectal cancer
• Liver disease

What are the complications of blood in stool?

The complications associated with blood in stool are stated below-

• High loss of blood
• Anaemia
• Shock
• Colon cancer
• Low blood pressure
• Haemorrhoids

Dos and don’ts for blood in stool treatment

Follow the tips stated below to cure blood in stool at home-

• Drink an ample amount of water
• Take a regular bath
• Avoid the consumption of alcohol
• Application of an ice pack on the affected area helps reduce the pain and inflammation
• Take a hip bath with cold water
• Clean your body after using the toilet
• Consume fibre-rich food like bottle gourd and cucumber
• Consume the fruits like banana
• Avoid spending too much time on toilet
• Eat healthy food
• Avoid hard to digest food

Home remedies for blood in stool

Follow the home remedies stated below to treat blood in stool at home-

Home remedy for blood in stool

Ingredients: Turmeric and milk

Step 1: Take a glass of milk and mix one tablespoon of organic turmeric powder into it.

Step 2: Boil the milk properly for a few minutes.

Instructions: Drink this milk regularly once a day at night before going to sleep. Follow this home remedy to cure the internal infection.

Home Remedy for blood in stool:

Ingredients: Raisin and a glass of milk 

Step 1: Take 10 grams of raisins and put them into the water for a night

Step 2: Extract the seeds from the raisin and put them into the milk.

Step 3: Boil the milk with raisin

Instructions: drink the milk along with raisins every day. Raisin is a natural stool softener; soft stool moves easily to the outside and decreases blood in the stool. 

Home Remedy for blood in stool:

Ingredients: Mulethi Churan, jaggery and a glass of water

Steps: Take one glass of water and mix one spoon of mulethi powder, and one spoon of jaggery into it.

Instructions: Drink this concoction daily at night regularly till you get complete relief from the rectal bleeding.

Seventh Home Remedy for blood in stool:

Ingredients: Fennel seed and a glass of water

Step 1: Roast the fennel seeds and grind them till it becomes powder.

Step 2: Take one spoon of fennel seed powder and mix it into the lukewarm water.

Instructions: Drink this mixture daily at night before going to bed. Fennel seed boosts the digestive system and helps decrease the problem of blood in the stool.

Home remedy for blood in stool:

Ingredients: Coriander seed and glass of buttermilk

Step 1: Soak 3 tablespoons of coriander seed into a cup of water for a night.

Step 2: Make a good paste of soaked coriander seed using a traditional paste maker, mix the paste in a glass of buttermilk.

Instructions: Drink this mixture regularly to reduce the frequency of rectal bleeding.

Home remedy for loose motion or blood in stool:

Ingredients: Honey and curry leaves

Step 1: Take 20 leaves of curry and make a coarse paste of curry leaves.

Step 2: Take one spoon of honey and mix the paste of curry leaves into it.

Instructions: Consume this mixture of honey and curry leaves regularly two times a day to stop rectal bleeding.

Home remedy for blood in stool:

Ingredients: Banana and yoghurt

Instructions: mash the banana and mix it properly in a bowl of yoghurt, and consume it multiple times a day.

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Home Remedies

Videocapsule endoscopy – Republican Hospital.

V.A.Baranova

Video Capsule Endoscopy is a minimally invasive method for examining the small, large or small and large intestines simultaneously using a special miniature capsule equipped with cameras and light sources. The essence of the method is simple – the patient swallows the capsule, while moving through the gastrointestinal tract, the device takes pictures and transmits information to the recording receiver. After a while, the capsule is excreted from the body naturally. The doctor analyzes the received data and gives a conclusion.

Video capsule endoscopy allows obtaining accurate information about the state of the entire gastrointestinal tract, including parts of the small intestine that cannot be examined using other diagnostic procedures (colonoscopy, gastroscopy, ultrasound, etc.) and at an early stage identify serious diseases.

The Republican Hospital uses the PillCam system for video capsule endoscopy. The capsule is equipped with two video cameras, four light sources and is powered by a rechargeable battery.

The PillCam Video Capsule Endoscopy System is a pioneer in the field of capsule endoscopy with 20 years experience in use by professionals around the world. The PillCam system is universal: it is possible to use enteric, colonic and pan-intestinal video capsules on one platform. All this makes the PillCam video capsule endoscopy system the most popular in Europe.

Benefits of capsule endoscopy at the Republican Hospital

• Endoscopists at our Republican Hospital named after V.A. Baranov are high-level professionals. The accumulated clinical experience allows them to conduct examinations of patients with suspicions of various diseases and give expert opinions on the results of the diagnosis.
• We use high-precision equipment that provides excellent image quality and data transmission. Due to this, the probability of an error in deciphering the data and clarifying the diagnosis is minimized. Video capsules used in the Republican Hospital are used for both small intestine and large intestine endoscopy.
• Video capsule endoscopy is a highly informative, minimally invasive and completely safe method for examining the small intestine.

When to do a capsule endoscopy

A distinctive feature of capsule endoscopy from other methods of examination of the gastrointestinal tract is the ability to study the condition of the intestine in detail. Some diseases are accompanied by certain symptoms (for example, blood in the stool, persistent abdominal pain), but the diagnosis fails to reveal any abnormalities. In this case, a study using a video capsule comes to the rescue. Our specialists prescribe the procedure for the following symptoms and conditions:

• Anemia, if gastroscopy and colonoscopy do not reveal hidden bleeding and reasons for reducing hemoglobin levels. In this case, the examination will reveal ulcers or tumors of the small intestine.
• Acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage, unless its source is found in the stomach or large intestine.
• Blood in stool, positive for occult blood in stool
• Unmotivated change in stool, diarrhea.
• Crohn’s disease is suspected because the lesion may be located in an area where colonoscopy is possible.
• Diagnosis of intestinal polyps, especially if the parents have suffered or are suffering from polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Concomitant pathology of the small intestine in some autoimmune diseases.
• Diagnosis of celiac disease (a disease characterized by impaired absorption in the small intestine with symptoms such as anemia, weight loss, diarrhea, flatulence and abdominal pain, impaired vitamin metabolism, etc.).
• . Persistent pain in the abdomen of unknown origin, while other diagnostic methods of the gastrointestinal tract do not reveal abnormalities.
• Weight loss, general weakness.
• Contraindications to gastroscopy, colonoscopy due to the presence of concomitant diseases, including in elderly patients.
• The desire of the patient himself when he prefers video capsule examination to gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

Contraindications

Under certain conditions, video capsule endoscopy is limited or not recommended. We do not perform the procedure on patients:

• if they have previously been diagnosed with stenoses, strictures or diverticula of the gastrointestinal tract;
• with installed pacemakers or other electrical medical devices;
• dysphagic;
• suffering from epilepsy;
• with acute intestinal obstruction.

We also do not recommend screening for women during pregnancy.

Exam preparation

In order for the examination results to be as accurate as possible and the procedure to be performed safely, capsule endoscopy must be carefully prepared. First of all, the doctor who gave the referral for the examination will advise you.

3 days before the examination it is necessary to switch to a slag-free diet, that is, exclude fatty and fried foods, alcoholic and carbonated drinks, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, sweets from the diet. The day before the study, it is necessary to cleanse the intestines with special preparations (for example, Macrogol (Fortrans)) and stop eating 12 hours before the procedure. A detailed scheme of preparation for videocapsule endoscopy will be given to you by an endoscopist. Mandatory attendance of the patient to the endoscopist at least 3 days before the examination is required to receive recommendations in the preparation and conduct of the study.

How capsule endoscopy is performed

Over one layer of non-synthetic clothing (t-shirt, t-shirt), the patient is put on a belt, then a bag for a recording device is put over the left shoulder. Place the recorder in a special bag, connect the antenna to the recorder with a plug. Then the patient, under the supervision of an endoscopist, swallows the capsule. 3-4 hours after the start of the examination, let’s take liquid food. During the study, we do not recommend that patients lie down all the time, they need to move, sit or walk to avoid delays in the movement of the capsule through the intestines. You don’t have to worry about the video capsule – it will leave the body naturally. After that, you can remove the belt and bag with the recording device. On this day or the next day, you must hand over the belt and bag with the recording device to the doctor. Already the doctor loads the received information into the computer.

Examination results

2-3 days after the procedure, the doctor will interpret the results of the examination. Thanks to a special program, a 12-hour image file can be viewed in fast or slow motion – usually it takes 3-4 hours. The doctor records the data in the examination protocol, which is given to the patient along with a disk with slides and video clips.

Video capsule endoscopy allows to detect pathologies of the mucous membrane of the small and large intestines, the presence of benign or malignant neoplasms, sources of hidden bleeding, etc. According to the results of the examination, it is possible to prescribe appropriate treatment or consultations by other medical specialists.

Appointment for capsule endoscopy

The earlier the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract is detected, the greater the chances of curing the disease using conservative methods. You can get detailed information about the procedure, prices and sign up for a consultation by phone: 55-55-30 or by leaving an online application on the hospital website.

If the cat has swallowed a foreign body

To understand why cats swallow inedible objects so often, you need to understand the structure of the cat’s digestive system.

A fragment of a rubber toy in the intestines of a cat on ultrasound (Fig. 1)

Cats have 30 teeth in their mouths (26 in kittens), all of them are pointed, so cats do not chew food, but tear and cut it.

The cat’s tongue is covered with keratinized papillae, which are needed not only for licking the fur, but also for scraping the meat from the bones. Taste buds are also located on the tongue, there are only 437 of them in cats (in humans, 9000), so they taste neither sweet nor salty, and the quality of food is determined by smell.

A cat can simply play with a small object or threads, and when they get on the tongue, they cling to the papillae and the cat has no choice but to swallow this object.

Food or toys pass through the esophagus and into the stomach, then into the small intestine and then into the large intestine. If the object is small and not sharp, then it easily passes through all departments and is excreted with feces without causing harm.

Foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract of cats.

Consider a pathological process, places where a toy (elastic band, bone, etc.) can linger in a cat

Foreign body removed as a result of enterotomy in a cat (Fig. 2)

1. Mouth is the first barrier. When examining the oral cavity, we can identify bones (usually fish) or chips stuck between the teeth or in the hard and soft palate. This is the simplest option – the bone is removed by the doctor, the wound is treated. Separately, it is worth considering such a thing as a thread. Often it wraps around the base of the tongue with one end (this can be detected during examination, but not always – it may not be visible due to edema), and the free end descends into the stomach and intestines, corrugating it in the form of an “accordion” and injuring the walls . This is an acute surgical condition requiring surgery. In this case, ultrasound usually shows an altered intestine with a thread in the cavity. If you find a thread in the mouth of a cat (sometimes it sticks out of the anus after a bowel movement) – in no case try to pull it out yourself, this can lead to serious consequences!

2. The second barrier is esophagus – bones, chips, large foreign bodies can get stuck there. Separately, it is worth highlighting sewing needles that pierce the esophagus and can fall into the soft tissues of the neck or into the chest cavity, making diagnosis difficult. The needles are clearly visible on x-rays. RG-non-contrast objects can be detected and removed using endoscopy.

3. If a foreign body gets into the stomach , it can stay there for a long time, sometimes for weeks and months, periodically causing clinical signs in the form of vomiting or refusal to eat, losing weight. With a favorable development of the situation, a foreign object may come out with an act of vomiting. If unfavorable – gastritis, ulcers, perforation of the ulcer, peritonitis may develop. If a foreign body is suspected in the stomach, ultrasound, RG or gastroscopy is prescribed. Ultrasound diagnosis of foreign bodies in the stomach is not difficult for an experienced doctor, the effectiveness of this type of diagnosis is higher than 90%

4. The small intestine and ileocecal zone (the place where the small intestine passes into the large intestine) is the most likely site of a foreign body retention. Since the lumen of the thin section is less than the diameter of the esophagus, through which the object calmly passed. If the foreign body is voluminous, it causes complete intestinal obstruction.