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Medical
procedures are becoming so advanced that even the most complex of them
can be simplified to become routine, outpatient procedures. One
incredibly common procedure that would have seemed impossible decades
ago is the endoscopy. Imagine the guesswork involved in diagnosing
digestive system disorders before a camera was able to allow doctors to
look at the problem. Even these procedures may be evolving out of the
need to prod internally to see inside the body. Meanwhile, it is an
incredibly common procedure that typically comes with many questions
and even anxiety from the patient. Research on the topic is very
consistent. The basics of an endoscopy are relatively simple.
There are
many kinds of endoscopies, and each is named for the area of the body
it is looking at or guided through. They all are similar; an endoscopy
is when a specialist inserts a long, thin tube into the body. At the
end of the tube is usually a camera, though sometimes it is devised to
treat the internal problem after it has been looked at (like removing a
growth.) The procedure is most commonly used to examine the digestive
system, lungs, or joints. Depending on where the patient’s symptoms
are, the endoscope usually enters the body orally or rectally. When
joints need endoscopic evaluation, the tube is inserted through an
incision.
Many
types of patient conditions require an endoscopy. The lungs and abdomen
can be evaluated with the endoscope, but there are a higher number of
endoscopies performed on the digestive system. The procedure may be
used to investigate unexplained stomach pain, ulcers, difficulty
swallowing, growths in the colon, digestive tract bleeding, or changes
in bowel habits. Endoscopies are used to diagnose and/or treat problems
that range from celiac disease to colon cancer.
The
specifics of each individual colonoscopy are best provided by the
medical professional who is performing the procedure. However, there
are several consistencies that may help a patient know what to expect.
- The patient is usually lying
down during the procedure. Vital signs are monitored throughout.
- A sedative or numbing agent
is administered, depending on entry of the endoscope. In the cases
where sedatives are used, patients often don’t recall much or any of
the procedure. Patients receiving sedatives cannot drive after the
endoscopy.
- Pain is not usually felt
during the endoscopy; pain or discomfort afterwards is more common.
Depending on the level of discomfort, the patient may be prescribed a
pain killer.
- Complications are rare and
few.
- The time it takes to complete
the procedure is fairly minimal. Some take as few as 5-20 minutes while
others may last 20-60 minutes.
- Preparing for the endoscopy
is a matter of clearing food from the body. Fasting and the use of
laxatives may be necessary 4-8 hours before the procedure.
There are
already methods used to see inside the body that don’t require
inserting a tube. For the small intestine, it is most effective to
swallow a pill with a camera in it. This capsule endoscopy takes
pictures as it travels through the small intestine and is expelled
through the bowels. There also exists a virtual endoscopy, where CT
scan technology is used to provide images. While nothing goes into the
body here, the detail is low quality, and if the results are abnormal,
a standard endoscopy is still necessary to proceed with treatment.
Knowing
what kind of endoscopy is going to be performed helps when researching
the procedure. Everything from Mayo Clinic to Wikipedia has varying
levels of information. If you need or may need an endoscopy, your
doctor’s office, physician, and specialists can give you the most
through and accurate information for your specific needs.
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