Endoscopy

An endoscopy is a diagnostic test that is used for looking into the interiors of the body with the help of an endoscope, which is a flexible, long tube with a light and camera in it. It can either been looked through or the images displayed on a TV monitor.

Why is an Endoscopy Performed?

An endoscopy is usually performed for examining the following: the esophagus, or the gullet; stomach; the duodenum; and the colon. The examination is done to find out the causes of symptoms like difficulty in swallowing, nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, abnormal bleeding, and so on. It can be a more accurate method of investigating tumors or ulcers, and it can also be used for performing biopsies or cytology in order to determine whether they are cancerous or benign.

It can also be used for the treatment of various conditions such as objects that may have been swallowed, in order to remove non-cancerous growths like polyps, or to widen narrowed areas, or the bleeding caused by lining tears or ulcers, all of which can be done via instruments that can be inserted inside through the channels in the endoscope.

What is Involved in the Endoscopy Procedure?

First of all you will be told not to drink or eat for about eight hours prior to the endoscopy procedure, to ensure that your stomach and duodenum contain no food. This procedure can be undertaken as an outpatient, and usually the doctor will give you the choice of either opting for a sedative, in order to be drowsy during the procedure, or be awake during it.

In case you choose to be awake during the procedure, a spray will be used to benumb the posterior part of the throat, thus making it easier to ingest the tube of the endoscope. And in case you choose to have the sedative, an injection will be given prior to the test, which will make you drowsy. This will however mean that you will be unable to drive on that day, hence it is advisable to take somebody along who can accompany you home after the procedure.

Next, you will be asked to lie down on your left side, and the endoscope will be inserted inside through the mouth to reach the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. This procedure does not affect your breathing. In fact, generally patients hardly feel any discomfort at all during the procedure, while those who opt for the sedative sleep throughout the whole process and generally do not remember anything afterwards.

Once the procedure is completed, you will require rest for some time. Usually, you will be discharged from the hospital the same day.

What are the Risks Involved in an Endoscopy Procedure?

As long as a specialized physician, who has been trained in it, performs the endoscopy it is a safe procedure. Complications, if they do occur, are rare. Some of the complications associated with endoscopy are: a reaction to the sedative or any medication that may have been used; bleeding occurring in the area of the removal of a polyp or biopsy; complications arising from preexistent liver, lung or heart disease; or the perforation of any internal part of the body, which requires surgical intervention to have it repaired.