Studies on positional change in endoscopic examination of the stomach

1st. Report Photogrrphic studies on upper posterior wall of the stomach with the GT-V gastrocamera

Abstract

Photographic studies of lesions on the upper post& nor wall of the stomach with the GT-V gastrocamera have hitherto proved difficult and unsatisfactory despite various elaborated technics. Knowing the merits of changing patients' positions in gastrophotography we intended to define advisable positions to obtain satisfactory pictures with the GT-V, a standard gastrocamera.1) Six positions were employed in this study ; supine, right decubitus, right oblique decubitus, prone, left oblique dicubitus and left decubitus. The gastrocamera was inserted to the depth of 50cm. with its tip set in two directions, “up” and “down”.2) Satisfactory en-face pictures of upper posterior lesions were obtained in the following combinations of bodily position and angle of the camera tip ; prone-down, right oblique decubitus-up and left oblique decubitus-up with percentages of 85. 7, 76.9 and 72.9 respectively.3) Upper posterior lesions near the lesser curvature were best photographed in left decubitus-up and left oblique decubitus-up with 80.0% and 79.1% respectively.4) Satisfactory pictures of upper posterior lesions near the greater curvature were obtained in right decubitus-up and -dowm with 81.8% each.5) Posterior wall or the greater curvature of fornix was best pictured in left oblique decubitus-up.6) Routine supine position proved inadequate for obtaining front view of the upper posterior wall.7) Positional changes failed to visualize the cardialregion.8) The above observations obtained with GT-V gastrocamera can be applied to any endoscopic examinations of the stomach.