subject: Realistic Facts of Endoscopy [print this page] The term Endoscopy literally means looking inside the body for medical reasons using an endoscope. This is an instrument used to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. This instrument is different compared to other instruments because they are inserted directly into the organ. Endoscopy can also refer to using a borescope in technical situations where direct line-of-sight observation is not feasible.
Describing the endoscope, it is a medical device consisting of a long, thin, flexible tube which has a light and a video camera. The images from the inside of the human body can be seen on a monitor or screen. Endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic medical procedure. The endoscope can also be used for enabling biopsies and retrieving foreign objects.
While looking into the history of endoscopy, it is found out that the early endoscopes were prepared in the 1800's. The instrument comprised of a large tube and a candle. Due to its huge structure, it was not being used frequently. It was with that invention of fiber optics, in the 1960s, that brought in a major change and advancement in endoscopy. The doctors were privileged with the advantage to treat their patients better by seeing the inside of their body with a small and relatively painless device.
The use of an endoscopy often comes in hand to confirm a diagnosis when one is not satisfied with a MRI, X-ray, or CT scan. An endoscopy is often carried out to find out the degree of problems a known condition may have caused.
The doctor's decision on the best treatment for the patient is often prompted from the endoscopy results. The endoscopies are commonly used for the diagnosis of cancer.
When a patient is having an endoscopy, the patient is asked to fast or not drink for a period before the endoscopy. Some patients are given antibiotics to prevent infection. Patients on blood-thinning medications, are advised to stop taking them for a number of days before their endoscopy. There is a risk the blood thinner may cause excessive bleeding during the procedure. It is important the patient only does so if the doctor has instructed to. A study concluded that anti-inflammatory drugs do not increase the patient's risk of bleeding during an endoscopy.
The vast majority of endoscopies do not require a general anesthetic.At times a local anesthetic would be just enough. Patients describe the procedure as possibly uncomfortable, but hardly ever painful.
