Advanced Endoscopic Procedure at Kimshealth

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Two patients successfully underwent SpyGlass procedures within a week’s span at KIMSHEALTH Trivandrum. SpyGlass technology is an endoscopic method for diagnosing and treating bile duct and pancreatic duct diseases. This innovative procedure was performed by a medical team led by Dr. Madhu Sasidharan, Senior Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology. It marks the first time this advanced procedure has been used in South Kerala.

SpyGlass is a fibre-optic scope, about the size of a pencil point, which is inserted into the bile duct and pancreatic duct through the stomach. This allows the doctors to quickly and precisely locate and examine the bile and pancreatic ducts in detail, as well as acquire tissue for biopsy without performing surgery.

“In the first case, a 71-year-old patient from Tamil Nadu with recurrent jaundice was evaluated and found to have a stricture in the bile duct. The narrowed bile duct obstructed the flow of bile, a critical substance vital for the digestion of fatty food. The obstruction of the bile duct leads to jaundice. Once the patient’s condition stabilised, a SpyGlass Procedure was done to take a direct biopsy of the stricture,” said Dr. Madhu Sasidharan.

In another case, a 47-year-old patient with a history of pancreatitis presented with severe abdominal pain. Further investigations revealed a large calculus obstructing pancreatic duct as the cause of the pain. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the medical team skillfully navigated the SpyGlass, broke down the calculus, and safely removed the stone fragments. To prevent recurrent episodes, a stent was placed, and the entire procedure was completed in just 30 minutes.

Both patients were discharged the very next day. SpyGlass is very helpful in removing large stones from the bile and pancreatic ducts, as well as in diagnosing cancers in these ducts” said Dr. Harish Kareem, Senior Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology. Dr. Ajith K. Nair, Senior Consultant, Dr. Arun P., Associate Consultant, Department of Gastroenterology, and Dr. Rajat Roy, Consultant, Department of Anesthesia, were also part of the procedure.