Endoscopy is one of those medical procedures that do not involve surgeries. A gastroenterology specialist or surgeon examines the gastrointestinal organs looking for the probable cause of the ailment. They inject an endoscopic anesthesia before starting the procedure.
Endoscope is the medical equipment used here. This is a long flexible tube with a tiny camera attached so the specialist can look for and take photos of any abnormal growth in the organs. It goes through the mouth, then the esophagus and finally down to the intestines.
An endoscopic ultrasound can also be used by them to do the imaging. This gives them additional photos and information about the digestive tract, as well as its surrounding organs and tissues. It combines the functions of ultrasound with endoscopy.
A patient goes through the procedure for many a reason. It may be due to severe stomach pains, gastritis, and ulcers. He may unknowingly have bleeding in his digestive tract. Sometimes, what he thought to be a simple diarrhea or constipation is serious enough to create a significant change in his bowel movement.
Digestive tract inspection from esophagus to small intestine is known as upper endoscopy. If the patient is suffering pains from the colon, then they do colonoscopy. They enter the endoscope from the rectum to inspect and assess the large intestine.
The pain he suffers from may be due to the growth of polyps in his colon. This is a serious case for these polyps can cause colon cancer. Specialist will use the tool to remove them in order to prevent their development.
The equipment can also prevent the bleeding caused by ulcers. Through the tube, it can help the passage of medical devices in order to do so. The specialist may also remove tissues to do biopsy for any presence of other diseases. They use ERCP or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography to take tissues. The ERCP is one of the procedures in endoscopy which examines the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and biliary system.
Usually, this procedure is safe. However, the patient may suffer some complications. He may not react well to the whole sedation. His metabolism may burn the effects faster causing him to wake up earlier than expected. Rare though it may be, there are patients who are allergic to anesthesia causing a risk in his life if both he goes through with it. He may also have a tear in his gut wall causing bleeding and infection. The other organs where the endoscope passes are at risk of tearing as well if not pushed and pulled properly in and out of the body.
Specialists require the patient to do necessary preparations. This decreases the chances of incurring bleeding and other complications. Fasting should be done eight hours before the scheduled procedure. Clearing his bowels is important so no stool is present in the rectum, especially the intestines. Laxatives are prescribed to him the day before as insurance. It is possible that he is taking medications to maintain his health so he should inform his specialist about that. He may be taking blood thinning medicine such as aspirin which should be stopped for a while. It affects the platelets in helping blood clots.
Endoscope is the medical equipment used here. This is a long flexible tube with a tiny camera attached so the specialist can look for and take photos of any abnormal growth in the organs. It goes through the mouth, then the esophagus and finally down to the intestines.
An endoscopic ultrasound can also be used by them to do the imaging. This gives them additional photos and information about the digestive tract, as well as its surrounding organs and tissues. It combines the functions of ultrasound with endoscopy.
A patient goes through the procedure for many a reason. It may be due to severe stomach pains, gastritis, and ulcers. He may unknowingly have bleeding in his digestive tract. Sometimes, what he thought to be a simple diarrhea or constipation is serious enough to create a significant change in his bowel movement.
Digestive tract inspection from esophagus to small intestine is known as upper endoscopy. If the patient is suffering pains from the colon, then they do colonoscopy. They enter the endoscope from the rectum to inspect and assess the large intestine.
The pain he suffers from may be due to the growth of polyps in his colon. This is a serious case for these polyps can cause colon cancer. Specialist will use the tool to remove them in order to prevent their development.
The equipment can also prevent the bleeding caused by ulcers. Through the tube, it can help the passage of medical devices in order to do so. The specialist may also remove tissues to do biopsy for any presence of other diseases. They use ERCP or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography to take tissues. The ERCP is one of the procedures in endoscopy which examines the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and biliary system.
Usually, this procedure is safe. However, the patient may suffer some complications. He may not react well to the whole sedation. His metabolism may burn the effects faster causing him to wake up earlier than expected. Rare though it may be, there are patients who are allergic to anesthesia causing a risk in his life if both he goes through with it. He may also have a tear in his gut wall causing bleeding and infection. The other organs where the endoscope passes are at risk of tearing as well if not pushed and pulled properly in and out of the body.
Specialists require the patient to do necessary preparations. This decreases the chances of incurring bleeding and other complications. Fasting should be done eight hours before the scheduled procedure. Clearing his bowels is important so no stool is present in the rectum, especially the intestines. Laxatives are prescribed to him the day before as insurance. It is possible that he is taking medications to maintain his health so he should inform his specialist about that. He may be taking blood thinning medicine such as aspirin which should be stopped for a while. It affects the platelets in helping blood clots.
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