Ballonography of the gastrointestinal system: Description of the method
Ballonography is a method for studying the motor-evacuation function of the stomach, duodenum, and intestines, which is based on recording and graphically recording changes in pressure in these sections using a special balloon. This method is also called the Sigg-Hoffman method. The most important advantage of this technique is that balloonography is performed without prior intubation of the stomach, so it is convenient to perform it on an outpatient basis.
There are various types of balloonography, among which the most common are: - balloon dynometry, in which the balloon is fixed, placed in the part of the gastrointestinal tract being studied (for example, the stomach) and after a certain time is removed. As a rule, balloonometry is performed to study the motor activity of the stomach. The procedure can be performed even in patients who have psychogenic pain syndrome (gastrogenic visceropathy), since no preliminary anesthesia of this part of the gastrointestinal tract is required; - daily balloonography, in which an inflated gas or air balloon is placed at the beginning of the intestine and the total time it remains in the intestine is recorded; - laparoscopic balloonography (laparoscopy with balloonography), in which during the laparoscopic procedure