🔍 What is an Endoscopy?
Endoscopy allows doctors to view the inside of the body—particularly the digestive tract—without making large incisions. The procedure is often used to investigate symptoms, take biopsies, or perform minor surgeries.
🏥 Services Provided in an Endoscopy Facility
- Diagnostic Endoscopy – Identifying conditions like ulcers, tumors, inflammation, infections, etc.
- Therapeutic Endoscopy – Removing polyps, stopping bleeding, dilating narrowed areas, or removing foreign objects.
- Biopsies – Tissue samples taken for lab analysis.
- Screening Procedures – Such as colonoscopy for colorectal cancer.
🔧 Types of Endoscopy Procedures
Procedure | Area Examined | Scope Used |
Gastroscopy | Esophagus, stomach, upper duodenum | Upper GI endoscope |
Colonoscopy | Entire colon | Colonoscope |
Sigmoidoscopy | Rectum and sigmoid colon | Sigmoidoscope |
Bronchoscopy | Airways and lungs | Bronchoscope |
Cystoscopy | Bladder | Cystoscope |
Laparoscopy | Abdominal cavity (via small incisions) | Laparoscope |
🧪 Features of a Well-Equipped Endoscopy Facility
- Endoscopic Suites: Sterile rooms with advanced imaging and monitoring equipment.
- Recovery Rooms: For post-procedure observation.
- Trained Staff: Gastroenterologists, anesthetists, and nursing staff trained in endoscopy.
- Infection Control: High-level disinfection of scopes and tools.
- Documentation Systems: For image and video recording, reporting, and storage.
✅ Advantages of Endoscopy
- Minimally invasive (faster recovery, less pain)
- Accurate diagnosis
- Option for real-time treatment
- No major surgery required for many conditions
⚠️ Risks (Rare)
- Bleeding (especially after biopsy or polyp removal)
- Perforation (a tear in the organ lining)
- Infection
- Reaction to sedation
