Endoscopy
Endoscopy allows your doctor to visualize various areas inside your body using an endoscope, a thin, flexible tube fitted with a camera. A number of endoscopic procedures are used to examine various parts of the body or treat certain conditions, including:
-
Colonoscopy looks at the large intestine and rectum
-
Enteroscopy studies the small intestine (small bowel)
- ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) diagnoses and treats problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas
- PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy) tube placement to provide nutrition support
-
Sigmoidoscopy assesses the lower part of the colon
-
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy investigates the esophagus and stomach
During the exam, an endoscope is passed through a natural opening in the body (such as the mouth or anus).
Endoscopy can also be used to perform a biopsy or remove tissue, and the endoscope can be fitted with various devices such as lasers, ultrasound devices or tiny surgical instruments. A mild sedative is used during most endoscopic procedures.