The Gastrointestinal function lab (G. I. Lab) is situated within Gastroenterology on level 2 of Tallaght hospital. The highly specialised technology available in the GI Lab helps Doctors to better diagnose and manage a variety of gastrointestinal disease.
Common tests and procedures performed in the GI Lab:
Oesophageal Manometry
A real time pressure analysis of oesophageal function performed by expert GI Physiologists. Commonly employed for the investigation of:
Gastro-oesophageal Reflux
Achalasia
Nutcracker Oesophagus
PreOperative assessments
An ambulatory overnight diagnostic procedure to measure total oesophageal acid exposure through small nasal canulas placed and analysed by our highly trained GI Physiologists. This procedure is useful in assessing:
1. Severity of Gastro-oesophageal Reflux
2. Suitability for surgery
A revolutionary procedure which allows images of the gut to be transmitted from a small ingestable capsule as it travels through the alimentary canal. This non-invasive, day procedure is performed by expert physiologists and doctors.
Tallaght Hospital is the national referral centre for all Capsule Endoscopy procedures and is an international leader in Capsule related research. Available capsule procedures include:
- Small Bowel Endoscopy
- Patency Capsules
- PillCam Colonoscopy
This non-invasive test checks for the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach. It is a quick test (approx 30 minutes) and involves drinking a glass of orange juice and giving a sample of breath, then swallowing a tablet labelled with carbon 13. After a 30 minutes wait another breath sample is taken.
If the carbon 13 is present in the second sample it indicates the presence of Helicobacter Pylori. This can then be treated with a course of antibiotics from your referring GP.
Urea Breath Test Patient Information Leaflet.pdf (size 85.9 KB)
