Get the facts about endoscopy and how it can improve your health. Explore the different types, benefits, and procedure of endoscopy to gain a better understanding of this valuable diagnostic tool.
Endoscopy is a minimally-invasive procedure used to diagnose mucosal disease of the digestive tract, take biopsies as needed and to perform certain interventions. Its popularity stems from the fact that it obviates the need for open surgery and makes treatment simpler. In this article, we will cover a brief history of the procedure, and its use in medicine currently.
Open surgery has been around for thousands of years right from ancient civilizations of the world, till date. It carries the risk of bleeding, infection in the area of incision and organ operated upon, collateral damage to tissues in the vicinity of surgery, extended hospitalization, and slow recovery. In certain situations, it’s the only option or the last resort. However, there are innumerable situations when a better alternative to open surgery can be considered.
Minimally-invasive surgeries have fascinated surgeons and doctors throughout history. Right from the 10th century Arabian physician Abukasim to doctors in Renaissance Europe, there have been many experiments to create instruments for minimally-invasive procedures. Throughout the 19th century, European physicians such as Bozzini, Desormeaux, Kussmaul and Nitze created various endoscope designs.
The first bronchoscopy (examining lungs) was done in the 1920s and since 1930s, many medical journals in the US and Europe started publishing papers on endoscopy. Since the 1960s, there has been widespread adoption of endoscopy around the world, and from the 1990s, it has become part of mainstream medicine. The name is derived from the latin word ‘endo’ meaning inside, and ‘scope’ – a general term for a viewing instrument.
Arthroscopy – Used when joints are affected. The tube is inserted through a small cut close to the joint.
Bronchoscopy – Used to examine infection or growth in the lungs. The endoscopic tube will be inserted through an opening like the mouth or nose.
Colonoscopy – Used for the examination of your colon or tailbone. The tube will be inserted through the anal cavity.
Cystoscopy – Used to assess damage to the bladder. The scope will be inserted through the urethra.
Enteroscopy – Used when there is a problem with the small intestine. For this, the scope can be introduced through either the mouth or the anus.
Hysteroscopy– Used to check the inside of the uterus in women and the tube is inserted through the vagina.
Laparoscopy – Used to scan your abdominal or pelvic area. A small incision will be made close to the area and the tube will be inserted.
Laryngoscopy – used to inspect the larynx. The camera tube is inserted through the nose or mouth.
Mediastinoscopy – The area between the lungs is called mediastinun and this kind of endoscopy is the examination of that area. A small incision is made above the breastbone for the tube.
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy – Used to investigate the esophagus and upper intestinal tract. The scope is inserted through the mouth.
Ureteroscopy – Used to check the ureter in men. The tube will be put in through the urethra.
The endoscope is a thin tube around the width of a pencil made from food-grade plastic or synthetic material that is safe. In most cases, the scope is flexible or bends easily while some lung endoscopies may use a rigid tube. The scope carries a light source and a camera at its end. The light illuminates the insides of the body while the camera relays pictures on to a computer monitor kept inside the OT. The doctor’s movement of the scope is guided by images seen on the screen. The procedure is performed by a specialist called endoscopist.
Smaller tubes called catheters can slide inside the endoscope. Tiny tools can be fixed to the end of the catheter, which helps perform the desired interventions.
Today, there are many advanced therapeutic endoscopies such as PEG, ERCP, etc., done for various reasons. It’s not possible to list out all of them, so we will only cover common or routine endoscopies.
There are some risks from an Endoscopic procedure. However, these are minor, familiar to the doctors, and hence easily managed by them.
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With people preferring to avoid open surgeries, endoscopy seems to be the best option.
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