UPPER GI ENDOSCOPY

    Endoscopy

    An endoscopy is used in medicine to look inside the body. The endoscopy procedure uses an endoscope to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body. Unlike many other medical imaging techniques, endoscopes are inserted directly into the organ. The endoscope is a flexible wire which has an LED Light at the tip and a camera. Once this is inserted inside the body through any opening, it beams images of the inside which are seen on a computer screen.

    There are many types of endoscopes. Depending on the site in the body and type of procedure an endoscopy may be performed either by a doctor or a surgeon. A patient may be fully conscious or anaesthetised during the procedure. Most often the term endoscopy is used to refer to an examination of the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract, known as an Esophago-gastro-duodeno-scopy or commonly as Upper GI Endoscopy.

    Types Of Endoscopy

    When an endoscope is used to explore any part of the body, it is named as follows:

     Upper GI Endoscopy – Oesophagus, Duodenum and Stomach

     Enteroscopy – Small Intestine

     Colonoscopy – Large Intestine

     Sigmoidoscopy – Colon

     ERCP – Bile Duct

     Bronchoscopy – Lungs

     Colposcopy – Cervix

     Arthroscopy – Joints

    Mostly children come to the hospital where they have ingested a coin or something similar and the foreign body is either inside the throat, stomach or sometimes into the lungs then endoscope is used to remove the foreign body. Adults using foreign objects into the rectum also need to be rushed to the emergency in some cases.

    Preparation For Endoscopy

    The preparation for the endoscopy depends on the organ that needs to be examined. So if the Upper GI Endoscopy is to be done then the stomach should be completely empty. The patient should not eat anything after the dinner on the previous night. Some medications are given after dinner so that the digestive system is clean in the morning. The patient has to report without even a glass of water because anaesthesia is used otherwise the test can be quite difficult for the patient since a wire is inserted through your mouth.

    Upper GI Endoscopy is done to diagnose any kinds of strictures or growth in the esophagus, any ulcers in the stomach or the duodenum. If any stricture or active ulcer is seen then the endoscope is used to pick up a piece of the tissue from the site which is then sent for biopsy to find its nature. The cost of Upper GI Endoscopy at Bahra Hospital is Rs. 4,000 and the patient has to come with prior appointment.