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What is an endoscopy procedure?
(February 25, 2010)
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Endoscopy may sound like a very complicated and difficult procedure. However, it is largely considered a routine daytime procedure where a patient doesn’t even need to be admitted into a hospital.
Contrary to popular belief, endoscopy is a relatively safe medical procedure which though invasive, is minimal in its intrusion. The endoscopic procedure utilizes the natural orifices of the body in order to make a diagnosis. The entire process is conducted in order that the doctors to be able to view the internal organs of the body and make a diagnosis based on the symptoms exhibited by the patient.
Endoscopy is routinely done to check for inflammation, ulceration and formation of tumors, or abnormal growths inside the human body. Endoscopy is a procedure where an instrument known as an endoscope is used to view the internal organs of the body. The endoscope, also referred to as a scope, is a long and wiry instrument which has a camera and a telescope at one end.
The endoscope can also often be used to obtain tissue samples and biopsies from inside the organs. If there is a foreign object in the organs or an obstruction which is causing discomfort, the endoscope can also be used to clear or retrieve it.
During the procedure, a patient is put under mild anesthetic to prevent pain and discomfort as much as possible. Depending on the part of the body which has to be examined, the endoscope can be inserted into the body through the mouth or the anus. Gastroscopy, in which a biopsy is obtained from the upper gastro intestinal tract, is performed by inserting the endoscope through the mouth. However, for colonoscopy, which is used to view the large intestines and the rectum, the endoscope is inserted into the body through the anal opening.
Though relatively painless under the influence of anesthetics, the endoscopic procedure might cause slight discomfort or pain after the effects of the anesthetic wears away. Depending on how the procedure is handled, the patient may have to stay back in the hospital for a few hours before leaving for home. Complications are rare during an endoscopic procedure; however, if the endoscope is not used in the right manner, it is possible that it may cause injury to the lining of the organs. If you feel discomfort for a period of 48 hours after the procedure, immediately contact your medical practitioner. You may need another medical procedure to correct the injury that you may have sustained from the procedure.
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Submitted by M T on February 25, 2010 at 02:23
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