Gastrointestinal specialists have a number of different diagnostic tools in their arsenal for figuring out exactly what’s going on inside your body. One tool that is especially useful during the diagnostic stage is an endoscope. An endoscope is a thin flexible tube with a camera attached to it that can be maneuvered to different locations inside the body in order to provide the specialist with a clear view of the area as the camera relays a live video feed onto a monitor in the operating room.
There are a few different types of endoscopic procedures that can look at specific areas of your GI tract, and in today’s blog, we take a closer look at four common endoscopic diagnostic techniques.
Common Endoscopic Diagnostic Procedures
Here’s a look at four common types of endoscopic procedures that we use regularly when working to diagnose a condition or assess the health of certain GI structures.
- Colonoscopy – Perhaps the most commonly known endoscopic procedure is a colonoscopy, which involves the insertion of a thin, flexible tube through the rectum and into the colon. This gives the provider the ability to view the lining of the colon to look for any abnormal growths, inflamed tissues or ulcers. Colonoscopies are recommended every 10 years once you turn 50 years old.
- Upper Endoscopy – An upper endoscopy, also sometimes referred to as an esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD, is a procedure that allows the specialist to take a closer look at the esophagus, stomach and duodenum, or the beginning parts of your digestive tract. The endoscope will be guided into your mouth and throat and then carefully navigated to the area that is to be observed. Instrumentation can also be inserted through the endoscope tube to collect tissue if a biopsy is needed.
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) – An ERCP is a unique procedure that combines endoscopic and X-ray technology. The endoscope is placed similar to an upper endoscopy, but once in place, a thin tube is inserted down the endoscope. Inside this tube is a contrast dye that will be released into the biliary ducts. This contrast dye shows up on an X-ray, so after imaging tests are taken your specialist can get a unique view of your gallbladder, bile ducts, liver and pancreas.
- Sigmoidoscopy – A sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that helps to highlight portions of your large intestine. If you’re experiencing a number of different gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, constipation, bleeding, abdominal pain, cramping or unexplained weight loss, a sigmoidoscopy may be able to clue you in to what’s going on. The tube is inserted through your rectum and air is blown into the intestine to help provide a better visual for the attached camera.
If you’re dealing with gastrointestinal issues and want to get to the bottom of your symptoms and get set up with a treatment plan, connect with a gastrointestinal specialist like Dr. Bhatti and learn if one of these tests could be right for you. For more information about any tests, or to talk to a specialist about your gastrointestinal discomfort, reach out to Dr. Bhatti and the team at Bhatti GI Consultants today at (952) 368-3800.
