Endoscopy
An endoscopy is a procedural method where organs inside of your body are checked or looked at by an instrument called an endoscope. An endoscopy is a long, thin and flexible tube that has a light and camera at one end.
This will take a picture of your inner body organ that is shown on computer television. An upper endoscopy is a procedure that is used to visually examine your upper digestive system with a small camera and a long end flexible tube.
This disease is treated by a specialist who treats the digestive system (gastroenterologist) uses endoscopy to diagnose and also to treat conditions that affect the oesophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine called the duodenum). This medical term is also termed esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
When is endoscopy used?
An endoscopy can be used to investigate:
- Unusual symptoms
- Help perform certain types of surgery
Endoscopy is also used to remove a small sample of tissues that can be looked at more closely and clearly. Endoscopy is called a biopsy.
Endoscopy symptoms and risks
- Fever
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- A red bloody, black or very dark-coloured stool
- Difficulty swallowing
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain
- Vomiting, especially when your vomit seems bloody or looks like small stone grounds
If you feel any of these, then you should call your doctor immediately or go to an emergency room if you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms.
An endoscopy is a very safe procedure. Rare complications include:
- Bleeding - You might have chances of a bleeding problem after an endoscopy is done because this procedure involves removing a piece of tissue for treating a digestive system problem. In some cases, such bleeding may require a blood transfusion.
- Infection - Most endoscopies consist of an examination and biopsy, and the risk of infection is low. The risk of infection might get increases when any of the additional procedures are performed as part of endoscopy.
- Tearing of the gastrointestinal tract - A tear in your oesophagus or may another part of your upper digestive tract which needs to require hospitalization and sometimes surgery to diagnose it.
Causes of endoscopy
This may include:
- Perforation (tear in the gut wall)
- Reaction to sedation
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Pancreatitis a result of ERCP
When to see a doctor?
If you notice any signs of infection:
Signs of infection include:
- Redness, pain or swelling near where the endoscope placed in
- A discharge of fluid or pus close to where the endoscope placed in
- High temperature, or feeling hot or shivery at the times
Other complication signs which might come after having an endoscopy include:
- Black or very dark-coloured poo
- Shortness of breath, bad stomach pain, or abdominal pain that does not go away easily or keeps coming again
- Vomiting blood
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does an endoscopy test for?
Endoscopy is used to collecting tissue samples, also called biopsy, that is used to test the diseases and conditions
What diseases can be detected by endoscopy?
Some of the common diseases and conditions that endoscopies can detect includes:
- Anaemia, ulcers, and hiatus hernias
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD
- Celiac disease and gastrointestinal cancers
What is endoscopy, and how long does it take to complete?
An upper endoscopy usually takes half an hour or an hour to complete the procedure. When the procedure is over, the doctor will remove the endoscope. Then they will shift you to a recovery room.
Do they make you sleep for an endoscopy procedure?
In endoscopic procedures involve sedation, which may relax you and subdues your gag reflex. You may feel calm and sedated during the procedure, which makes you sleep, and you will not feel any kind of discomfort when there is an endoscope inserted through the mouth and into the stomach.
