Upper endoscopy lets patient's physician examine the lining of the upper a part of patient's gastrointestinal tract, which include the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Your physician uses a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope, which has its lens and lightweight source, and will view the pictures on the video monitor. You might hear patient's doctor or other medical staff refer to upper endoscopy as upper GI endoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy or pan endoscopy.
- Why is upper GI endoscopy done?
Upper endoscopy helps patient's physician evaluate symptoms of persistent upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. It is the best test for locating the cause of bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. It's also more accurate than X-ray films for detecting inflammation, ulcers and tumors from the esophagus, stomach and duodenum. Your doctor might use upper endoscopy to obtain a biopsy. A biopsy helps patient's doctor distinguish between benign and malignant tissues. Remember, biopsies are taken for a lot of reasons, as well as patient's doctor might order one even when he or she does not suspect cancer. For example, yourr doctor might use a biopsy to try for Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that causes ulcers. Your doctor may also use upper endoscopy to execute a cytology test, where he or she will introduce a little brush to collect cells for analysis. Upper endoscopy can also be used to treat conditions from the upper gastrointestinal tract. Your doctor can pass instruments with the endoscope to directly treat many abnormalities - this makes patient little or no discomfort. For example, your doctor might stretch (dilate) a narrowed area, remove polyps or treat bleeding.
- Why Do I Need an Endoscopy?
1. Stomach pain
2. Ulcers, gastritis, or difficulty swallowing
3. Digestive tract bleeding
4. Changes in bowel habits (chronic constipation or diarrhea)
5. Polyps or growths in the colon
In addition, your doctor may use an endoscope to take a biopsy (removal of tissue) to look for the presence of disease.
Endoscopy may also be used to treat a digestive tract problem. For example, the endoscope might not only detect active bleeding from an ulcer, but devices can be passed through the endoscope that can stop the bleeding. In the colon, polyps can be removed through the scope to prevent the development of colon cancer.
Also, using ERCP, gallstones that have passed outside the gallbladder and into the bile duct can often be removed.
Overall, endoscopy is very safe; however, the procedure does have a few potential complications, which may include:
1. Perforation (tear in the gut wall)
2. Reaction to sedation
3. Infection
4. Bleeding
5. Pancreatitis as a result of ERCP