Board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Peyton Berookim is proud to offer the ESO Pill as an alternative to an upper endoscopy at his Beverly Hills office.

ESO is a new revolutionary tool that enables Dr. Berookim to visualize a patient’s esophagus without the need for invasive measures and more importantly without the need for sedation. This is a 20 minute in-office procedure, where the patient swallows a tiny wireless camera about the size of a multi-vitamin while lying down. Over the next ten minutes, the patient takes sips of water to allow the capsule to navigate down the esophagus. The camera takes hundreds of pictures, which are sent to a recording device for Dr. Berookim to review. After the procedure the ESO Pill will travel through the stomach and eventually be excreted naturally.

“The ESO pill is an incredibly effective in-office tool for visualizing the esophagus without the need for sedation,” – Dr. Berookim.

Dr. Berookim utilizes the ESO pill to diagnose a wide range of esophageal issues including esophageal varices, esophageal cancers, esophageal ulcers, esophagitis, and Barrett’s Esophagus. Patients with  chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may develop Barrett’s Esophagus, which is a pre-cursor for esophageal cancer. The ESO pill makes it easier for those suffering from GERD to monitor their condition over time, without submitting to more invasive endoscopic procedures on a regular basis.

The ESO pill is not recommended for patients with swallowing disorders, gastrointestinal obstruction, and pacemakers or other implanted electromedical devices.  Furthermore due to the risk of capsule retention the ESO pill should be avoided in patients with small bowel stricture/adhesions, small bowel tumors and should be cautioned in those with Crohn’s disease.

The ESO pill is a great option for patients who want to determine the root cause of their esophageal issues while avoiding more invasive, sedation requiring endoscopic procedures. Remember, esophageal cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers in the United States, and early detection does save lives. If you would like to learn more about the ESO pill, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Berookim by calling 310.271.1122 or contact us online.