What is an endoscopy?

An endoscopy is a procedure in which your doctor uses specialized instruments to view and operate on the internal organs and vessels of your body. It allows surgeons to see problems within your body without making large incisions.

A surgeon inserts an endoscope through a small cut or an opening in the body such as the mouth. An endoscope is a flexible tube with an attached camera that allows your doctor to see. Your doctor can use forceps and scissors on the endoscope to operate or remove tissue for biopsy.

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.

Endoscopy 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 endoscopicbiopsy
  • help your doctor see inside the body during a surgical procedure, such as repairing astomach ulcer, or removinggallstonesor tumors

Your doctor may order an endoscopy if you’re having symptoms of any of the following conditions:

Your doctor will review your symptoms, perform aphysical 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.

Your doctor will give you complete instructions on how to prepare. Most types of endoscopy require you to stop eating solid foods for up to 12 hours before the procedure. Some types of clear liquids, such as water or juice, might be allowed for up to two hours before the procedure. Your doctor will clarify this with you.

Your doctor may give youlaxativesorenemasto use the night before the procedure to clear your system. This is common in procedures involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the anus.

Prior to the endoscopy, your doctor will do a physical examination and go over your complete medical history, including any prior surgeries.

Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter drugs and nutritional supplements. Also alert your doctor about anyallergiesyou might have. You may need to stop taking certain medications if they might affect bleeding, especiallyanticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

You may want to plan for someone else to drive you home after the procedure because you might not feel well from the anesthesia.

Endoscopies fall into categories, based on the area of the body that they investigate. The American Cancer Society (ACS) lists the following types of endoscopies:

Type Area examined Where scope is inserted Doctors who typically perform the surgery
arthroscopy 关节 through a small incision near the examined joint orthopedic surgeon
bronchoscopy lungs into the nose or mouth pulmonologistor thoracic surgeon
colonoscopy colon through the anus gastroenterologist or proctologist
cystoscopy bladder through the urethra urologist
enteroscopy small intestine through the mouth or anus gastroenterologist
hysteroscopy inside of theuterus through thevagina gynecologistsor gynecological surgeons
laparoscopy abdominalorpelvicarea through a small incision near the examined area various types of surgeons
laryngoscopy larynx through the mouth or nostril otolaryngologist, also known as an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor
mediastinoscopy mediastinum, the area between the lungs through an incision above the breastbone thoracic surgeon
sigmoidoscopy rectumand the lower part of the large intestine, known as the sigmoid colon into the anus gastroenterologistor proctologist
thoracoscopy, also known as a pleuroscopy area between the lungs and the chest wall through a small incision in the chest pulmonologist or thoracic surgeon
upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, also known as anesophagogastroduodenoscopy esophagusand upper intestinal tract through the mouth gastroenterologist
ureteroscopy ureter through the urethra urologist

Like most technologies, endoscopy is constantly advancing. Newer generations of endoscopes use high-definition imaging to create images in incredible detail. Innovative techniques also combine endoscopy with imaging technology or surgical procedures.

Here are some examples of the latest endoscopy technologies.

Capsule endoscopy

A revolutionary procedure known as a capsule endoscopy may be used when other tests aren’t conclusive. During a capsule endoscopy, you swallow a small pill with a tiny camera inside. The capsule passes through your digestive tract, without any discomfort to you, and creates thousands of images of the intestines as it moves through.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

ERCPcombinesX-rayswith upper GI endoscopy to diagnose or treat problems with thebileand pancreatic ducts.

Chromoendoscopy

Chromoendoscopy is a technique that uses a specialized stain or dye on the lining of the intestine during an endoscopy procedure. The dye helps the doctor better visualize if there’s anything abnormal on the intestinal lining.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)

EUS uses anultrasoundin conjunction with an endoscopy. This allows doctors to see organs and other structures that aren’t usually visible during a regular endoscopy. A thin needle can then be inserted into the organ or structure to retrieve some tissue for viewing under a microscope. This procedure is called fine needle aspiration.

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)

EMR is a technique used to help doctors removecancerous tissuein the digestive tract. In EMR, a needle is passed through the endoscope to inject a liquid underneath the abnormal tissue. This helps separate the cancerous tissue from the other layers so it can be more easily removed.

Narrow band imaging (NBI)

NBI uses a special filter to help create more contrast between vessels and the mucosa. The mucosa is the inner lining of the digestive tract.

Endoscopy has a much lower risk ofbleedingand infection than open surgery. Still, endoscopy is a medical procedure, so it has some risk of bleeding, infection, and other rare complications such as:

The risks for each type depend on the location of the procedure and your own condition.

For example,dark-colored stools,vomiting, anddifficulty swallowingafter a colonoscopy could indicate that something is wrong. A hysteroscopy carries a small risk of uterine perforation,uterine bleeding, or cervical trauma. If you have a capsule endoscopy, there’s a small risk that the capsule can get stuck somewhere in the digestive tract. The risk is higher for people with a condition that causes narrowing of the digestive tract, like a tumor. The capsule may then need to be surgically removed.

Ask your doctors about symptoms to look out for following your endoscopy.

Most endoscopies are outpatient procedures. This means you can go home the same day.

Your doctor will closeincision woundswith stitches and properly bandage them immediately after the procedure. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to care for this wound on your own.

Afterward, you’ll likely have to wait for one to two hours in the hospital for the effects of the sedation to wear off. A friend or family member will drive you home. Once you’re home, you should plan to spend the remainder of the day resting.

一些程序可能让你稍微uncomfortable. It may require some time to feel well enough to go about your daily business. For example, following an upper GI endoscopy, you may have asore throatand need to eatsoft foodsfor a couple days. You may have blood in your urine after a cystoscopy to examine your bladder. This should pass within 24 hours , but you should contact your doctor if it persists.

If your doctor suspects a cancerous growth, they’ll perform a biopsy during your endoscopy. The results will take a few days. Your doctor will discuss the results with you after they get them back from the laboratory.