How Do We Diagnose Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction?
Intestinal pseudo obstruction is a rare condition that can be difficult to diagnose because your symptoms can mimic other disorders. With a team of gastrointestinal motility experts and a dedicated Neurogastroenterology, Motility and Functional Disorders Program, we excel in quickly and accurately diagnosing your condition at Stanford Health Care. Once we understand the source of your discomfort, we deliver personalized treatments so you can start to feel better.
You may need one or more tests including:
- Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan: Using X-rays and special computer software, this test creates two- and three-dimensional images of your intestines. Providing alternative views of your bowel, pancreas, and other organs, CT scans help us examine details that might not be visible through other imaging tests.
- Barium study: Drinking a special chemical (barium) and tracking its journey down your intestinal tract, this advanced imaging study produces sharp images of your bowels. Learn more about barium swallow testing.
- Gastric emptying study: Using advanced imaging technology and a tiny amount of radioactive (nuclear) material to examine how quickly you move food from your stomach to your small intestine after eating a small meal
- Gastroduodenal manometry: With the help of a small flexible tube, tiny camera, and special instruments we pass down your mouth to your esophagus (endoscope), we measure how strong and how often the smooth muscle in your stomach and small intestine contracts and relaxes.
- Small intestinal X-ray: A standard X-ray of your small intestine helps us find blockages and any other abnormalities.
- Upper endoscopy: With the help of a small flexible tube and tiny camera we pass through your mouth and esophagus (endoscope), we carefully examine the lining of your stomach for ulcers, inflammation, infection and cancer. During your upper GI endoscopy procedure, we may also take a tissue sample (biopsy) and examine it under a microscope.
- Wireless capsule gastrointestinal monitoring system: Swallowing a pill with a tiny wireless monitoring system inside (SmartPill®) to record acid levels, temperature, and pressure changes in your GI tract. The wireless motility test lets us know how fast or slow your stomach, small bowel, and colon are emptying. Your body cannot digest the SmartPill®, and it will eventually pass through a bowel movement.