Endoscopy: what is the procedure, how does it take place and how to prepare for it

When internal organs are disturbed, inflammation, ulcers and suspicion of tumor formation, it is necessary to examine them from the inside. Visually you can determine which pathological process is taking place, its stage. To see the state of the mucous membrane of the organ cavities, an endoscope is used.

How does an endoscopy work?

The endoscope consists of a miniature camera, which is connected by a wire to a monitor. The patient is injected with the device orally, rectally, or through the urethra, depending on which organ is to be examined.

The doctor moves the device and the camera moves inside the organ. This is how he examines the entire cavity, looking at the image on the screen. If necessary, the doctor may take a small sample of tissue for analysis. This examination allows you to accurately determine the diagnosis.

Endoscopy comes in several types and has different names depending on which organs are examined. With the help of a probe, such organs are examined:

• The stomach is examined through a camera inserted into the patient through the throat. This procedure is called a gastroscopy.
• The large intestine is examined by inserting a probe through the anus. The procedure is called a colonoscopy.
• The small intestine is examined during an intestinoscopy procedure. The upper small intestine is examined by inserting a probe through the throat and the lower intestine through the anus.
• The blood vessels are examined through a special miniature endoscope. Before the angioscopy procedure, the patient is put under local or general anesthesia, depending on the size of the examination area.
• The bile ducts are examined by cholangioscopy. The camera is inserted orally. If necessary, bile and pancreatic juices are taken for analysis.
• The walls of the bladder are examined during a cystoscopy procedure. The endoscope is inserted through the urethra. The procedure is performed without anesthesia, under spinal or general anesthesia.

The larynx, trachea, bronchi, and ventricles of the brain are also examined with an endoscope. Each examination is carried out with an apparatus suitable for the size and degree of flexibility of the wire, so that discomfort is as little as possible.

How to prepare for an endoscopy

What preparation is necessary before endoscopy depends on what organ is to be examined. Also on the preparation affects whether the procedure will take place under anesthesia or without it.

Peculiarities of preparation for some types of endoscopy:

• Before the examination of the intestine, a laxative is taken and an enema is given.
• The examination of the stomach is performed on an empty stomach. The patient does not eat for at least 8 hours before the examination. The day before the procedure, do not eat foods that cause gas or those that take a long time to digest. Your doctor will provide you with a list of such foods and give you additional recommendations.
• If an endoscopy under general anesthesia is planned, no medications affecting the vascular wall should be taken the day before.

For each type of endoscopy, the doctor will provide information on how to properly prepare. He may prescribe certain medications or additional procedures. All recommendations must be followed, so that there are no obstacles to the examination and the examination gives the most accurate results.