Dorothy FarrarEndoscopy
Endoscopy , also commonly referred to as reflection, includes various medical procedures for the internal examination of hollow organs or body cavities. Its name is derived from the Greek and can largely be translated as “view from the inside”.
What is an endoscopy?
Endoscopy is one of the most common techniques in medicine today. It is used in many specialist areas and is a very meaningful and reliable method. More extensive interventions can be avoided more and more often with endoscopy.
An endoscopy is performed with the help of a flexible or rigid endoscope that is inserted through an existing or surgically created body opening. At its end there is basically a lamp and a camera for photo and video recordings as well as different instruments that vary depending on the location. Endoscopy is therefore a gentle way of examining parts of the body that are otherwise inaccessible.
application and function
The areas of application for endoscopy are numerous. A distinction is made as to whether endoscopy is used for diagnostic, surgical or therapeutic purposes.Originally, the focus was on recognizing and diagnosing diseases in the gastrointestinal area . Due to constant further development, endoscopies are now also common in gynaecology, ENT medicine, urology, pulmonology and orthopedics. The abdomen, uterus and fallopian tubes are examined by endoscopy . The bronchi , trachea , blood vessels and urethra can also be examined with an endoscope. Even joints can be carefully controlled with this method.
Endoscopy enables the detection and localization of diseases by means of image transmission and tissue removal (biopsy). It is mostly inflammation , types of cancer or cysts that are diagnosed in this way.
However, endoscopy has long since gone beyond pure diagnostics. Operations performed endoscopically, known medically as minimally invasive interventions, are part of everyday life. Stents can be inserted and bladder or gallstones removed by endoscopy. Hernias can be treated, knee surgeries performed, and gallbladders and cysts removed. Minimally invasive procedures are less strenuous for the patient and accelerate healing.
methods and procedures
The various forms of endoscopy are adapted to the respective area of application. Flexible, up to two meter long endoscopes are used, for example, in the tortuous intestinal area. They are inserted rectograde, i.e. through the anus .
Smooth metal tubes, on the other hand, are ideal for use in the vaginal area. Examinations of the stomach, the esophagus and the respiratory organs are carried out via the oral cavity (antegrade), while the small intestine, which is difficult to access , has been able to be examined with a camera capsule for several years. It is swallowed and excreted at the end of the digestion process.
What does the patient have to consider?
Endoscopies are performed both on an outpatient and inpatient basis. The latter is particularly necessary as soon as general anesthesia has to be administered for a minimally invasive procedure. In this case, patients receive detailed information and rules of conduct from the doctor treating them and the anesthesiologist responsible for the anesthesia. It is recommended to consistently follow the doctor’s instructions so as not to interfere with the treatment.
Diagnostic endoscopies are usually performed on an outpatient basis. Patients also receive detailed documents for this from the doctor. In the case of endoscopies in the gastrointestinal area, it is particularly important to ensure timely and complete emptying.
Dentures must be removed for oral examinations and, especially for rectal and vaginal examinations, the relevant areas must be cleaned thoroughly beforehand. Furthermore, the doctor treating you must be informed about the intake of medication.
In the case of outpatient endoscopies, it is customary to administer a light sedative to make the process as comfortable as possible for the person concerned. As a result, subsequent driving of vehicles is not permitted. Weak patients should have an escort for the ride home. If severe symptoms occur after an endoscopy, a doctor must be contacted immediately.
process and implementation
With a few exceptions, an endoscopy is completed after a short time. Only the exact procedure differs from form to form. For example, endoscopy of the stomach, known as gastroscopy , is done on an outpatient basis. If desired, the patient is given a sedative. The throat area is numbed with a spray beforehand.
The endoscope is now inserted into the esophagus and the stomach, previously inflated with air, can be viewed in the supine position via video transmission. A mirroring of the intestine, on the other hand, takes place in a lateral position. The patient must first take a drug to inhibit bowel activity.
A hysteroscopy is the endoscopy in the gynecological field. It takes place predominantly on an outpatient basis and often without anesthesia on a gynecological chair. If necessary, during a hysteroscopy, the uterus is inflated with a gas and thereby expanded before the endoscope is inserted.
Laparoscopy (abdomen) and arthroscopy (joints) are performed under general anesthesia. Both require surgical incisions to insert at least two endoscopes. For the laparoscopy, which often takes a little longer, the first thing to do is inflate the abdomen with air. Joints are completely filled with sterile liquid before the examination.
Self-service or health insurance – who will bear the costs?
If an endoscopy is ordered by the doctor treating you, it can be assumed that there is a medical need for it. Against this background, the assumption of costs by statutory and private health insurance companies is rarely a problem. However, the assumption of the costs for an endoscopy using a video capsule is still disputed by various health insurance companies.
Risks, dangers and complications
Endoscopies without general anesthesia are among the most risk-free medical interventions. Bleeding, problems with the cardiovascular system or even organ perforation occur only sporadically . Infections caused by germs only occur in about four percent of cases. In order to reduce this number even further, people with a weakened immune system are treated with antibiotics as a precaution .If the endoscopy takes place under general anesthesia, there is also the inherent risk associated with general anesthesia. Side effects of general anesthesia can include nausea , vomiting , coughing , difficulty swallowing , aspiration of stomach contents, and damage to teeth and tongue .
If there is an acute inflammatory bowel disease, a serious heart problem or a coagulation disorder, an endoscopy is not recommended.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.