If your doctor suggested an endoscopy, you might feel a bit nervous.
That’s normal. Understanding the endoscopy procedure can ease your worries.
There’s some important information you’ll need to know about the endoscopy. What is it? How does the process work? What are the different types? What conditions can it diagnose or treat?
And, of course, what are the risks and benefits involved?Â
In this article, we’ll cover all of these questions and more, so you can feel confident and well-informed about the endoscopy screening procedure.
What is an endoscopy?
An endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure that allows doctors to look inside your body using a special tool called an endoscope.  The endoscope is a long, flexible tube with a light and a camera at the end. It’s inserted through a small opening in your body until it reaches the area that needs to be checked. Â
The endoscope captures images or videos of organs or other body parts. These images are displayed on a screen for your doctor to see. Many endoscopes also have channels inside them. These channels allow doctors to insert instruments to remove tissue or perform surgery if needed.
A gastroenterologist often suggests endoscopy when they need to evaluate symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastroesophageal reflux, unexplained weight loss, anaemia, or gastrointestinal bleeding.
Healthcare professionals use endoscopy to screen, diagnose, and treat conditions. There are many types of endoscopies to check and treat different organs. The most common types of endoscopies are colonoscopy, upper endoscopy, and laparoscopy.
The procedure is quick and minimally invasive. This means it doesn’t require large cuts and typically has a short recovery time. Â
Quick Facts About Endoscopy:
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What Are the Types of Endoscopy?
1.     OGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) or upper GI endoscopy (gastroscopy)
The scope goes through the upper part of your digestive system, including your oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum (upper small intestine). It's used to diagnose issues like acid reflux, ulcers, and swallowing difficulties.
2.     Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy examines the large intestine (colon) and rectum. It’s commonly used to screen for colon cancer, polyps, and other gastrointestinal issues.
3.     Bronchoscopy
This type examines the airways and lungs. It’s used to diagnose conditions like lung infections, tumours, and airway blockages.
4.     Cystoscopy
A cystoscopy allows doctors to look inside the bladder and urethra. It helps diagnose urinary tract infections, bladder problems, or blood in the urine.
5.     Laparoscopy (Minimally Invasive Surgery)
Laparoscopy examines the abdominal and reproductive organs through small incisions in the abdomen. It is often used for diagnostic purposes or during surgery, such as for removing an appendix or gallbladder. Â
6.      Sigmoidoscopy
This looks at the lower part of the colon (sigmoid colon) and rectum. It is usually performed to check for signs of cancer or other digestive issues.
7.     Enterostomy
This type of endoscopy focuses on the small intestine. It’s used to examine conditions like Crohn’s disease, tumours, or bleeding in the small intestine.
8.     Hysteroscopy
A hysteroscopy examines the inside of the uterus. It’s often used to diagnose or treat issues like abnormal bleeding, fibroids, or polyps.
9.     Ureteroscopy
The scope goes through your urethra to examine the tubes connecting your kidneys to your bladder (ureters).
10. Capsule endoscopy Â
Researchers and scientists are always finding ways to make endoscopies less invasive. Capsule endoscopy is one of them. Capsule endoscopy is the latest advanced technology of endoscopy. It uses a small, swallowable capsule with a camera inside. As the capsule moves through your digestive tract, it takes pictures. This helps doctors find things like tumours or bleeding. It's a less intrusive way to examine your digestive system.
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What Diseases Can Be Diagnosed with Endoscopy?
Endoscopy can help detect diseases in several parts of your body, including:
Digestive system: It can find issues like gastrointestinal diseases, colon polyps, and colon cancer detection via endoscopy.
Head and neck: It can identify problems like swallowing disorders and laryngitis.
Joints: It can help detect conditions like arthritis, tears, and dislocations.
Nervous system: It can find brain tumours.
Respiratory system: It can detect lung diseases and infections.
Urinary system: It can spot urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney stones.
Reproductive system: It can find issues like abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, and fertility problems.
Bile duct problems: It can detect issues with the bile ducts, which are important for digestion.
Barrett's oesophagus: A condition where the oesophagus is damaged by acid reflux. Endoscopy can help monitor it.
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP): A rare genetic condition that causes polyps to form in the colon, rectum, and upper GI tract. These polyps can become cancerous, and endoscopy can help spot them early.
Endoscopy Treatments
Some endoscopes can also be used with special instruments to perform treatments, such as:
Sealing wounds
Injecting medicine
Draining fluid
Stopping internal bleeding
Removing damaged tissue or tumours
Fixing blockages or widening narrow organs
Placing stents (tiny tubes to open blocked or damaged organs)
Performing surgeries
In a laparoscopy, doctors perform surgery through small cuts, not large ones. This is also called keyhole surgery, and it's much less invasive than traditional surgery. It’s the preferred method for treating many conditions.
What Are the Benefits of Endoscopy?
Endoscopy helps Doctors Diagnose Conditions
Endoscopy is used to Treat Various Conditions
Endoscopy is generally safe with a low risk of complications.
Endoscopy is a quick and effective procedure.
Endoscopy is typically painless, with only mild discomfort for most people.
Endoscopy Procedure Overview
How Do I Prepare for an Endoscopy?
Before your endoscopy, you will get specific instructions based on the type of procedure. Here are some general endoscopy preparation steps you may need to follow:
Complete pre-tests: You may need tests like a urine test to check for a UTI before procedures involving your urinary tract. A pregnancy test may be required before a hysteroscopy.
Provide a medical history: Tell your doctor about any medical conditions, medications, or supplements you’re taking.
Fast: You may need to stop eating or drinking for a certain time before the procedure. Sometimes, you’ll only be allowed to eat certain foods or drink specific liquids.
Cleanse your bowels: For procedures like colonoscopies or enterostomies, you may need to clean out your intestines with a bowel prep.
Stop certain medicines: You may need to stop taking blood thinners, like warfarin or aspirin. Your doctor will guide you on any medications to adjust.
Stop smoking: You may need to stop smoking and using tobacco before the procedure.
Arrange for a ride: If you’re getting sedation or anaesthesia, you won’t be able to drive yourself home. Make sure someone can drive you.
What Should I Expect During an Endoscopy?
An endoscopy usually lasts between 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the procedure. Most people go home the same day, but some procedures may require an overnight stay.
Sedation: Most people get moderate sedation, so you’re relaxed and pain-free. In some cases, general anaesthesia may be used, which involves a breathing tube. Some people may get local anaesthesia and a sedative instead, which numbs the area and helps you relax.
Procedure: Once sedated, the doctor inserts the scope and guides it to the area they need to check. The scope shows images on a screen, allowing the doctor to look for any irregularities and perform treatments or take tissue samples if necessary.
Closing incisions: If any small cuts are made, the doctor will close them afterward.
What Should I Expect After an Endoscopy?
After the procedure, the medical team will monitor you. You might feel groggy from the anaesthesia, but most people can go home the same day. It’s a good idea to rest for the rest of the day and avoid heavy activities like driving or using machinery.
Ask your doctor what to expect during your recovery, depending on the type of endoscopy you had.
How Painful Is an Endoscopy?
You won’t feel pain during the procedure due to the anaesthesia and sedatives. In some cases, like a colonoscopy, you might feel some pressure when the scope is inserted, but it goes away quickly.
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What Are the Side Effects of an Endoscopy?
Most side effects are mild and go away within two days. These depend on the type of endoscopy. For example:
If the scope was in your throat, you might feel hoarse or have a sore throat.
If the scope was in your intestines, you might experience cramps, bloating, or nausea.
Your doctor will give you tips on managing these side effects and may prescribe pain medicine if needed.
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Taking Care of Yourself at Home
Self-care after endoscopy depends on the type of procedure you had. Follow your doctor's instructions, but here are some general tips:
Most people can return to normal activities within 24 hours to a few days.
If you experience severe stomach pain, vomiting, or notice blood or black stools, contact your doctor or go to the hospital.
Long-Term Outlook of endoscopy
Recovery after endoscopy is quick, usually taking a few hours to a day.
A Note from ARDEN JR SURGERY
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Endoscopies have low complication rates, and most people are discharged within a few hours. Some side effects, like a sore throat or bloating, may happen but usually go away quickly.
Sometimes, endoscopies can show conditions that traditional imaging, like ultrasounds, might miss. This can save you a return visit for additional tests. Certain biopsies can only be done with an endoscopy. For some conditions, endoscopies are now the preferred treatment method. They make surgeries faster and recovery times shorter.
Rest assured, most endoscopies only take about 30 minutes. You’ll be done before you know it, and back to your day with peace of mind that you’ve taken a proactive step in caring for your health.
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