Endoscopy is a diagnostic technique, used in medicine, which consists of the introduction of a camera or lens within a tube or endoscope through a natural hole, a surgical incision or an injury for visualization of a hollow organ or body cavity .
The term properly used to indicate the study that is carried out to the digestive tract with the help of a flexible tube and there are two types: fiber optic endoscope and the endoscope video.
Virtual endoscopy is technically an image study, a computed tomography is used to observe the internal surfaces of the organs, such as the lungs (virtual bronchoscopy) or the colon.
Virtual endoscopy uses a computer to combine many images and create a three-dimensional image.
That the access port is small does not mean that it is free of risks since you have access to vital organs that can be damaged.
Endoscopy In addition to being a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure, it can also perform therapeutic maneuvers such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy or the intake of biopsies.
Using small surgical incisions, endoscopy can be:
- Mediastinoscopy: It is the visualization of the mediastinum.
- ToroCoscopy: It is the visualization of the thoracic or pleural cavity.
- Laparoscopy: It is the visualization of the abdominal or peritoneal cavity.
- Arthroscopy: It is the visualization of a joint cavity, usually from the knees.
During pregnancy, the visualization of the fetus is called fetoscopy.
Endoscopic studies can be carried out with a local anesthetic applied in the larynx or with the use of sedatives to avoid discomfort to patients and safely.
What is endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a medical procedure that uses an optical system to be able to see inside the digestive tract. It is called gastroscopy when the upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach and small intestine) is studied, and colonoscopy when the colon is studied.
The endoscope consists of a long and flexible fiber optic tube, with a camera, connected to a video, which allows the inside of the digestive tube.
The endoscope contains pipes inside that allow:
- Inject air or liquid to distend the digestive tract and inspect it, as well as washed the inspected zone,
- aspirate and take samples from the surface of the digestive tract to be studied,
- Introduce a micro clamps for the realization of biopsies and take tissue samples for microscopic study, extract small foreign bodies that have accidentally ingested, digestive mucosal polyps, cauterizar varices or hemorrhagic lesions, etc.
- Introduce micro scissors, and other tools to perform interventions in the esophagus, stomach or intestine (extraction of polyps, tumors, etc.).
As a surgical technique, it allows to solve certain problems without the need to open the abdomen and the digestive tract, reducing risks and complications, and allowing a much faster recovery of the patient.
What is it indicated?
Endoscopy is indicated as a complementary proof in the diagnostic process of the digestive tract: tumors, malformations, polyps, hemorrhages, esophageal reflux, suspicion of gastric or duodenal ulcer, problems of malabsorption or bad food digestion, celiac disease , etc.
In addition, the realization of an endoscopy allows surgical interventions inside the digestive tube, to make tissue biopsy, perform sutures, etc., avoiding the need for hospital admission and reducing complications.
How is it done?
To perform this technique, the endoscopist uses specially designed video cameras and small lenses (1.9 mm to 4 mm), as well as small-caliber instruments that can be introduced into the digestive tube (tweezers, scissors, etc..). In the case of gastroscopy, the endoscope is introduced through the mouth after applying a local anesthetic in the throat, and in the colonoscopy it is introduced through the anus, after applying vaseline or lubricant and anesthetic cream.
For the realization of an endoscopy, the patient must be fasting from the night before. In the event that you are taking treatment, you must ask the doctor if you should take it or interrupt it (in some cases you must interrupt the treatment with anticoagulants, with aspirin or with steroid anti-inflammatories).
You must always inform the doctor if allergies or intolerances are available to medicines.
For the realization of endoscopy, the patient is sedated, and a local anesthetic is applied. In some cases, general anesthesia may be necessary, depending on the health status of the patient and the type of intervention to be carried out, although the most frequent, is that it only requires local anesthesia and sedation.
The patient is naked, covered with a gown and placed on a stretcher. For the realization of a gastroscopy, it is placed sideways on the stretcher, and is asked to swallow at the time of introducing the gastroscope. For the realization of the colonoscopy, the patient must be in genuflection posture on the stretcher.
The endoscope is introduced through the mouth or by the anus. It takes 15 to 60 minutes of time to perform it, depending on which, during its realization, a sampling is carried out, a cauterization of some bleeding zone, or the extraction of some mass or polyp.
What risks does it take?
The complications are rare, and of presenting themselves, they are not usually important. However, no medical procedure is exempt from complications, by the idiosyncrasy of patients or by unexpected events. Some of these complications are:
- Digestive hemorrhage,
- Tearing of the intestinal wall,
- Complications secondary to general anesthesia, if this has been necessary.
What care or measures should be adopted before and after its realization?
Before carrying out the endoscopy, the patient must be fasting from the previous night, without drinking alcohol or smoking. If a colonoscopy is going to be performed, a laxative or enema will be applied to clean the colon well the day before, and it is recommended for the previous days a diet with very low fiber content in order to reduce the amount of stool to the maximum The digestive tube
The taking of any medication must be consulted with the doctor.
After carrying out, and after a few hours of surveillance, the patient can usually move to her home.
During the 2-3 days of endoscopy, it may present abdominal discomfort due to the intestinal distension caused by the introduction of gases into colonoscopy, stinging in the throat in the case of a gastroscopy, or in the anus If a colonoscopy has been performed. If more important symptoms are presented, such as intense pain, colic pain or that persists more than 2-3 days, vomiting, an important bleeding, difficulty swallowing, or by defecating in colonoscopy, fever, etc., it must be attended to Doctor to quickly identify a possible complication.
