Healthy Times Magazine

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy is a procedure which enables a gastroenterologist to view the inner lining of the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal endoscopy offers access to the entire GI tract which includes the small intestine, bile duct, colon, duodenum, stomach, and esophagus. Based on the organs which gastroenterologists would like to view, the GI procedure may be referred to as an upper stomach endoscopy or lower endoscopy. Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (also known as OGD) helps in viewing the esophagus, stomach and duodenum while the Lower Gastrointestinal endoscopy helps in visualizing the colon. Usually the endoscopes enter the patient through the anus, throat, and urethra or through a small incision made in the skin.

This endoscopy procedure can be performed either on outpatient basis or inpatient basis. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy helps in diagnosing
several GI disorders. The gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure is not only utilized for diagnosis of gastrointestinal disease but is also
used for the treatment GI problems. The endoscopic procedure is less painful and is generally associated only with slight discomfort.
Few of the GI problems that an endoscopy can help to diagnose or investigate are –

• Urinary tract infections
• Incontinence
• Internal gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• Gastrointestinal ulcers
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Colon problem
• Chronic diarrhea

Types of endoscopic procedures

There are several different types of endoscopic procedures which are involved in examination of different organs or systems. Some of them
are as follows -

• Colposcopy
• Bronchoscopy
• Capsule endoscopy
• Laparoscopy
• Double Balloon Enteroscopy
• Fetoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography
• Arthroscopy
• Amnioscopy
• Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (OCD)
• Proctoscopy
• Rhinoscopy
• Thoracoscopy

Preparation

The patient undergoing this gastrointestinal procedure must not eat or drink anything within eight to ten hours of the procedure. In case
there is food in the stomach then, the food shall hinder the view through the endoscope, and it could lead to vomiting.

Procedure

The endoscopy procedure usually takes between 5 to 10 minutes. During the procedure, the patient is asked to lie on his or her left side.
During the endoscopy procedure, the patient is placed under short anesthesia. The endoscopy procedure is carried out with the help of an
endoscope. The endoscope is a rigid, flexible tube with a light delivery system which illuminates the tract. It further has a lens
system which conveys the image from the fiberscope and displays the images on the color TV. The endoscope is passed down the esophagus, into the stomach and into the intestine.  The endoscope fails to interfere with breathing. During the procedure, taking of slow and
deep breaths may help the patient relax.

A capsule endoscopy is another form of endoscopy where the patient ingests an encapsulated camera which records the images as the capsule moves through the digestive tract. The capsule exits the patient through the bowel movement.
Complications May include Gastrointestinal perforation, Bleeding and Infection.

Endoscopy is a safe and a beneficial procedure which has saved the lives of many people. Most of the patients tolerate the endoscopy
procedure very well and feel fine later.