Endoscopy is a medical procedure that helps the doctor visualize your digestive tract in real time. It involves passing a tube with a camera and light source into your digestive tract, either via your anus (Lower GI endoscopy) or your mouth (Upper GI endoscopy).
It is used to make diagnosis, collect a sample of a tissue or mass for further investigation, or for treatment too.
The fun part is that this is a largely painless procedure.
Why do I need an endoscopy?
Endoscopy allows your doctor to visually examine an organ without having to make a large incision. A screen in the operating room lets the doctor see exactly what the endoscope sees.
It is typically used to:
- Help your doctor determine the cause of any abnormal symptoms you’re having
- Remove a small sample of tissue, which can then be sent to a lab for further testing; this is called an endoscopic biopsy
- Help your doctor see inside the body during a surgical procedure, such as repairing a stomach ulcer, or removing gallstones or tumors
Symptoms
Your doctor may order an endoscopy if you’re having symptoms of any of the following conditions:
- inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease
- stomach ulcer
- chronic constipation
- pancreatitis
- gallstones
- unexplained bleeding in the digestive tract
- tumors
- infections
- blockage of the esophagus
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- hiatal hernia
- unusual vaginal bleeding
- blood in your urine
- other digestive tract issues
Your doctor will review your symptoms, perform a physical examination, and possibly order some blood tests prior to an endoscopy. These tests will help your doctor gain a more accurate understanding of the possible cause of your symptoms. These tests may also help them determine if the problems can be treated without endoscopy or surgery.
If you need an endoscopy, don’t hesitate to get one done at Resuscitate Hospital or reach out to us for more information.
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