Our A-Z of Services
Respiratory Medicine & Surgery
Ultrasonography
Endoscopy
Endoscopy allows a visual examination of internal organs and body parts without invasive exploratory surgery.
Endoscopy is performed with either a rigid or flexible fiberoptic instrument. Flexible endoscopes such as those used in the examination of the stomach consist of a long, flexible insertion tube with a bending tip at the end that enters the body, an eyepiece, and a control section. The tip of the endoscope is manipulated using a control knob in the hand piece. In addition to the fiber bundles which provide the light source, two channels are present within the endoscope. One channel permits various endoscopic tools to be passed and fluids to be suctioned or samples taken. The other allows air or water to be passed into the stomach/intestine to insufflate (inject air into the area), or wash away mucus from the viewing port.
Special video cameras can be attached to the endoscopes which allow viewing of the exam on a television screen, as well as recording the exam on video.
Types of endoscopy include:
Flexible endoscopy:
- Bronchoscopy: an exam of the lower airways.
- Colonoscopy:an exam of the transverse colon, ascending colon, cecum, large bowel, and rectum.
- Endoscopy: an exam of the oesophagus, stomach, and upper intestines.
Rigid endoscopy:
- Arthroscopy: an exam of soft tissue structures and joint cartilage, which is not visible on radiographs. Decreased damage to the joint and shortened recovery times are two advantages of arthroscopy over arthrotomy (surgical exam of the joint).
- Cystoscopy: an examination of the vagina, urethral opening, urethra, bladder, and ureteral openings.
- Laparoscopy: an exam of the abdominal cavity performed through a small incision in the wall of the abdomen or through the navel.
- Proctoscopy: an exam of the large bowel and rectum.
- Rhinoscopy: an exam of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx (junction between the nasal area and the back of the throat).
Candidates for endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract include those with a stricture (abnormal narrowing) or foreign body in the esophagus.
Symptoms, such as vomiting with or without blood and/or melena (blood in the stool) may indicate a stomach ulcer or cancer are present and are indications for an endoscopic exam. If a duodenal aspirate (sample of fluid in the intestine) for culture or isolation of Giardia, pancreatic response testing, or biopsies are necessary, endoscopy would be indicated.
The advantage of endoscopy over other methods of evaluating the digestive system is that it is non-surgical. The technique allows for visualization of the lining of the digestive system and for taking samples of the lining of these organs, including biopsies. Many foreign bodies in the esophagus and stomach may be removed via endoscopy.
In cases where the lower intestinal tract is to be examined, the patient should be fasted for 24-48 hours. Enemas are then used to clean the intestines of remaining faecal matter. Colonoscopy is useful to diagnose many large bowel diseases or generalized intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Multiple biopsies of the gastrointestinal system are taken during scoping. Tissue may appear grossly normal, but show pathology (signs of disease) when examined histologically.
Please contact the clinic for more information.